Lightsaber

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Designed as much for elegance in combat as for ceremony, the lightsaber, also referred to as the "laser sword", was a distinctive weapon, the very image of which was inextricably bound with the mythos of the Jedi Order and their polar opposites, the Sith. The lightsaber also became synonymous with the Jedi Order's values to uphold peace and justice throughout the galaxy. This perception endured, despite the many conflicts with lightsaber-wielding Sith and Dark Jedi.

The weapon consisted of a blade of pure plasma^[1] energy emitted from the hilt and suspended in a force containment field. The field contained the immense heat of the plasma, protecting the wielder, and allowed the blade to keep its shape.^[2] The hilt was almost always self-fabricated by the wielder to match his or her specific needs, preferences and style. Due to the weightlessness of plasma and the strong gyroscopic effect generated by it, lightsabers required a great deal of strength and dexterity to wield, and was extremely difficult—and dangerous—for the untrained to attempt using. However, in the hands of an expert of the Force, the lightsaber was a weapon to be greatly respected and feared. To wield a lightsaber was to demonstrate incredible skill and confidence, as well as masterful dexterity and attunement to the Force.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins 1.2 Early Refinements 1.3 Usage by the Sith 1.4 Adoption by the Jedi 1.5 Jedi Civil War 1.6 Great Galactic War 1.7 Aftermath and Sith Rebirth 1.8 Great Jedi Purge and Jedi Reformation 1.9 Dark Side Resurgent 1.10 Imperial Resurgence 2 Mechanics and Specifications 2.1 Mechanics 2.1.1 Components 2.2 Cutting Power 2.2.1 Lightsaber Resistant Materials 2.3 Weapon Variations and Specializations 2.3.1 Hilt Variations 2.3.2 Blade-type Variations 2.4 Usage and Applications 2.4.1 Lightsaber Combat 2.4.2 Lightsaber Rituals 3 Behind the Scenes 3.1 Early Concepts 3.2 Prop Design and Effects 3.3 Choreography 4 Appearances 4.1 Non-canon appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and References 7 External links

History

Origins

With the formation of the Jedi Order on Tython in 25,000 BBY, after the Force Wars between the followers of Ashla and Bogan, ceremonial weapons became an integral part of their order. For millennia afterwards, the Jedi used bladed weapons such as swords, as lightsabers had not been invented yet.

The first lightsabers came into being when Jedi combined advanced offworld technology with a forging ritual, learning how to "freeze" a laser beam. By the time of the Duinuogwuin Contention around 15,500 BBY, their studies and researches with this "frozen blaster" technology yielded success; they developed a method to generate a focused beam of energy that arced circumferentially back to its source, creating a controlled energy circuit and leading to the first portable high-energy blades. However, these preliminary lightsabers were highly unstable and inefficiently guzzled power from a belt-mounted power supply; they could only be used for a brief duration before overheating. As a consequence of these flaws, the first lightsabers were little more than ceremonial objects, seldom worn, and much less utilized.

Early Refinements

The extreme lack of stability that plagued the weapons early designs were gradually corrected through the ages, and the cumbersome and rarely used siege-weapons gave way to elegant and much more commonly used lightsabers. However, while these archaic lightsabers were far more stable than their ungainly predecessors, they still suffered from energy consumption issues, still requiring the belt-worn power pack of previous generations. The power-cable tended to restrict the wielders movements in battle and prevented the usage of force-powered and long range telekinetic saber combat. However, despite the shortcomings, the highly stable blades granted them a superior advantage in hand-to-hand combat against heavily-armored foes, and protosabers saw a great deal of use during the period of the Hundred-Year Darkness in 7,000 BBY.

It is likely that the first true lightsaber duels took place during this period.

Usage by the Sith

It would seem that the Dark Lords of the Sith Empire were ultimately responsible for the advancement of lightsabers, replacing the belt-mounted power pack with a power cell contained within the hilt. An internal superconductor was introduced which transferred the returning looped energy from the negative-charged flux aperture back into an internal power cell. With this modification, the power cell would only expend power when the energy loop was broken, such as when the lightsaber cut something, solving the age-old power supply problem. According to the Tedryn Holocron, the Sith also created the schematics for the first saberstaffs, which Exar Kun procured from a Sith holocron and included in the modifications of his Jedi lightsaber.^[3][4] Wielders of these original modern lightsabers include Karness Muur, one of the original Dark Jedi who previously wielded an archaic lightsaber during the Battle of Corbos at the end of the Hundred-Year Darkness, but later switched to a curve-hilted modern lightsaber during his reign as one of the Dark Lord of the Sith.^[5]. The Sith crew of the Omen were also equipped with modern lightsabers.^[6]

Muur also appears to have been one of the Sith Lords to establish the tradition of wielding lightsabers with red-hued synthetic crystals, which the Empire maintained until its resurgence in 3,653 BBY. However, this tradition was disregarded by Exar Kun during his reign, as he and his followers opted instead to continue using their Jedi lightsabers in combat, though at least one follower used a lightsaber with a red crystal, namely Toki Tollivar. However, this tradition was reestablished by the Sith acolyte Haazen and the Dark Lords Revan and Malak.

Despite the advancements in lightsaber technology apparently pioneered by the Sith, most Dark Lords of the era spurned the use of lightsabers in favor of Sith swords.^[4]

Adoption by the Jedi

With Naga Sadow's invasion of the Republic in 5,000 BBY and the subsequent start of the Great Hyperspace War,^[4] the technological innovations pioneered by the Sith Empire were brought to the Republic and the Jedi. However, the majority of Sith forces held to the use of Sith swords, while the Jedi continued to use the protosabers, as they had not yet had time to adapt and implement these new designs.However, with the Sith defeat at the end of the war, modern lightsabers were adopted by the Jedi order. By the time of the Gank Massacres in 4,800 BBY, they were almost universally utilized by Jedi, though some, such as Odan-Urr, held stubbornly to the use of protosabers.

When the Great Sith War began in 4,000 BBY, Jedi converts who flocked to Exar Kun's banner continued using their Jedi lightsabers, disregarding the tradition lain down by lightsaber-wielding Sith Lords of the original Sith Empire to wield red-bladed lightsabers. However, other Sith-pioneered innovations did enter their ranks, with Kun himself modifying his Jedi lightsaber into a double-bladed Sith lightsaber, using schematics that he procured from a Sith holocron.^[3] While Exar Kun's insurrectionist war ultimately failed, he did introduce the double-bladed lightsaber to the Jedi order, and it began to see relatively widespread use during the period leading up to the Jedi Civil War.

This period also saw the momentary rise of the Sith acolyte Haazen. Haazen was a failed Jedi apprentice who fought in the Great Sith War, ultimately defecting to the Sith. While his defection resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Jedi and Republic soldiers, he managed to keep it secret, and the Jedi order merely thought him incompetent and denied him knightship. When he finally rose to prominence after orchestrating the creation of the Jedi Covenant and the subsequent Padawan Massacre of Taris, he took control of the Covenant and started a conflict with the Jedi order. Brandishing a red-bladed lightsaber, reestablishing the synth-crystal tradition, Haazen caused the deaths of numerous Jedi, killing several of them himself,^[7] before dying in the destruction of the Draay Estate.^[8]

Jedi Civil War

The Jedi Civil War was a conflict started by the former Jedi Revan and Malak in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars. During their conflict against the Mandalorians led by Mandalore the Ultimate, Revan found evidence regarding the survival of the Old Sith Empire, and in order to prepare the Republic for its inevitable conflict with the ancient Sith, Revan decided to attack the Republic himself in order to unify it, sacrificing his heroic reputation. Creating a new Sith Empire of his own, he waged war for several years, attracting numerous rogue and Dark Jedi to his cause. However, his plans ultimately backfired when his "Sith" apprentice, the new Darth Malak, betrayed him. Heavily injured and left with amnesia, Revan was taken in by the Jedi he betrayed and was ultimately set against Malak. After defeating Malak, with his plans in ruin, for rather than being strengthened and unified, the Republic was left in shambles by Malak's rampage, Revan departed for the Unknown Regions to search out the Sith Empire himself and possibly find a way to slow them down.^[9]

This era saw a surge in the usage of personal energy shields by many armed forces, rendering blasters at least partially obsolete. As blaster usage experienced partial decline due to the shields, melee weapons such as swords became common once more, a standard weapon among many armies. In order to make the weapons more durable, almost all swords and weapons of the era were created using cortosis ore woven into the blade, allowing them to stand up against numerous energy weapons, including lightsabers.^[9]

When he resurrected the Sith under his own banner, Revan observed the tradition of using red-hued blades laid out by the original Sith. Taking up such a weapon himself, many of his followers followed suit, and red lightsabers became officially recognized as the mark of a Darksider. Double-bladed lightsabers also saw common usage among the Dark Jedi and Sith Lords of his Empire.^[9] The usage of red lightsabers and saberstaffs continued among the surviving Darksiders after the fall of Revan's Empire, with many Dark Lords wielding such weapons during the First Jedi Purge.^[10] Since the time of Revan, red-bladed lightsabers continue to be the staple of Darksiders.

Great Galactic War

In 3,681 BBY, that which Revan feared took place, and the Old Sith Empire invaded. Eventually the conflict culminated in the Sacking of Coruscant, where for the first time since the Great Sith War, Sith warriors set foot in the Jedi temple. After the sacking of Coruscant came the Treaty of Coruscant, an unprecedented peace accord between the Republic and the Sith. The Sith controlled one half of the galaxy with Coruscant as their capital, while the Republic held on to the remaining half of its territory with Aldaraan as their capital. With the Sith in control of Coruscant, the Jedi Order retreated to its birthplace on Tython.^[11]

In terms of lightsaber usage, the Sith Empire finally made them much more common place than before, with Sith swords being almost completely abandonned. As lightsaber usage among them became more common, the sight of red Sith blades also became more common, as they held to the traditional bloodshine color. Another typical design feature on Sith weapons was the usage of dual-blade guards, with several notables during the Sacking of Coruscant wielding such weapons.^[12]

Aftermath and Sith Rebirth

Eventually, the Republic managed to reclaim its lost territory, though whether they did so by driving back the Sith or simply took advantage of purposeful withdraw on the Sith's part remains unknown. Either way, until the rise of such notables as Darth Desolus and Darth Ruin, the Sith were thought extinct. During this period, lightsaber usage and technology remained largely unchanged, although it should be noted that the usage of naturally formed crystals from Ilum became almost universal among Jedi, causing the variety of lightsaber colors to drop, as the vast majority of crystals that formed on Ilum took on either a blue of green hue..^[3] Even when the Sith were reborn, major innovations in lightsaber technology remained absent.

It is notable that during the reign of Lord Kaan, Sith apprentices were provided with stock lightsabers rather than having to create their own.^[13] After the institution of the Rule of Two during the reign of Darth Bane, this policy was reversed, and apprentices had to create their own lightsabers, though synthetic crystals for the weapons were often provided by the masters.^[14] However, a notable exception to this rule was Darth Maul, who self-fabricated the four synth-crystals required for his saberstaff after several days of nonstop work with no sleep. Maul considered the creation of the crystals he used as a mark of Sith superiority over Jedi, who relied on naturally formed crystals that they found at various revered sites, as they had for millennia.

Great Jedi Purge and Jedi Reformation

With the occurrence of the Great Jedi Purge and the foundation of the Galactic Empire, lightsabers became rare antiques. The few lightsabers that could be found were all either hidden away, or circulated on the black market, as Emperor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, made their possession and use illegal among all but his own servants, such as his apprentice; Darth Vader; or his various other adepts; such as his Hands or his Shadow Guard. In order to make it more difficult for surviving Jedi to create lightsabers, he also had most of the sites where Jedi procured crystals, such as Ilum, razed or quarantined, and he placed strict controls and sanctions on any crystals or gems available on the open market that could be used in a lightsaber, such as Corusca gems.^[15]

These acts and precautions forced many later Jedi to start relying on self-fabricated synth-crystals for their lightsabers, though few actually used red-hued ones, as that was the mark of a Sith-made crystal. This practice became very common during Luke Skywalkers tenure as Jedi Grand Master, he himself doing so.^[16]

Dark Side Resurgent

After his death and resurrection, Emperor Palpatine notably let slip the usage of traditional Dark Side blades, wielding a blue blade in combat himself and only forcing Luke Skywalker to wield one during the latter stages of the Jedi Master's brief apprenticeship under him. However, most of his Force-using servants were only Dark Jedi, not true Sith, so were not bound by tradition, and the lightsaber he wielded was collected from a slain Jedi and was not his own.

After Palpatine's final death, there remained several Dark Side cults and groups either formed by surviving Dark Jedi servants of his, or established by former members of Luke Skywalker's academy who had fallen to the Dark Side. A notable group were the Reborn, a Dark Jedi arm of Lord Hethrir's Empire Reborn movement, led by the Chistori Desann. Due to the large number of Dark Jedi within the Reborn, supplied by a special cloning method that granted the clone fetus' Force-sensitivity, Desann was forced to manufacture lightsabers for the groups members. This resulted in a notable innovation in lightsaber construction techniques, as beforehand lightsaber manufacturing was impossible due to the non-uniform nature of the crystals, which required painstaking, individual fine-tuning.^[3] These manufacturing processes also appeared to have been applied by the Disciples of Ragnos, a Sith cult formed by Desann's apprentice, Tavion Axmis, and surviving members of the Reborn. Also, as all the lightsabers were identical assembly line creations, they all utilized red crystals.

While the development of lightsaber-manufacturing techniques was a significant advancement in lightsaber technology, the Jedi Order, as well as most other Force-using traditions, kept to the old methods where lightsabers were self-fabricated by students in order to individualize the weapons, and test the abilities of the adept in question.

Imperial Resurgence

As the Imperial Remnant recovered in strength and formed a new Imperial dynasty descended from Jagged Fel, they also formed a new Force-using order; the Imperial Knights. The Knights were noted for their devotion to their Emperor as opposed to the Force itself, causing the Jedi Order to consider them Grey Jedi, misguided though not evil. All Knights within the group self-fabricated their weapons, though they all followed the same design and all used silver crystals in their weapons. This helped individualize their weapons but still mark them out as Imperial Knights.

Another piece of standard equipment among the Knights were gauntlets fashioned out of pure cortosis, allowing them to block and short out enemy lightsaber blades in combat.

The Emperor Roan Fel eventually formed an alliance with the resurgent Sith Order, led by Darth Krayt. While the Empire and the Sith worked together to retake the Galaxy and drive the Jedi Order into hiding, the Sith turned on the Empire and usurped the throne, causing a civil war within the Empire between Imperial troops loyal to the Roan Fel personally versus those loyal to the throne and position of Emperor itself. The lightsaber construction methods of the Sith differed from those of the Jedi or the Imperial Knights in that many of their lightsabers were apparently constructed of an organic material similar to the Yorik coral used by the Yuuzhan Vong. They also frequently utilized synthetic crystals, in observance of the tradition pioneered by Karness Muur and others.

Mechanics and Specifications

Mechanics

The typical lightsaber hilt consisted of a metal cylinder between twenty and thirty centimeters in length. However, the size of individuals hilts did vary drastically, as the weapon was tailored to the creator's specific needs and preferences. The lightsaber mechanisms were contained within the hilt. High levels of energy generated by a high-output Diatium power cell was unleashed through a series of focusing lenses and energizers that converted the energy into plasma. The plasma was projected through a set of focusing crystals that lent the blade its properties and allowed for the adjustment of blade length and power output. The ideal number of crystals was three, though only one was required.^[3]

Once focused by the crystals, the plasma was sent through a series of field energizers and modulation circuitry within the emitter matrix that further focused it, making it into a coherent beam of energy that was projected from the emitter. The blade typically extended about a meter before being arced by the blade containment field back to a negatively charged fissure ringing the emitter, where it was channeled back to the power cell by a superconductor, completing the circuit.

Components

Hilt

Main article: Lightsaber hilt

The basic, all-encompassing part of a lightsaber. A combination handgrip, blade emitter, activator switch and power source, it held within the inner workings of the weapon that allowed it to produce its distinctive energy-based blade. The typical hilt was a straight, metal cylinder between twenty and thirty centimetres in length, though many hilts broke from this standard, being designed to meet the needs or preferences of their wielder.

Pommel Cap

Main article: Pommel cap

The endpiece of the hilt, they were typically made from a single piece of heavy metal to balance out the gyroscopic effect of the blade. They often served as the backplate for all the lightsabers workings, completing various circuits and containing a recharge port. On occasion, the pommel cap would contain a backup power cell.

Power cell

Main article: Diatium power cell

One of the critical components of a lightsaber, the power cell provided the energy for the entire mechanism. The power cells were wrapped within the power field conductor, a power vortex ring and an inert power insulator. The lightsaber's pommel cap and its recharging port were attached directly to the diatum cell.

Power Insulator

Main article: Inert power insulator

Another vital component, the power insulator was a safety feature to prevent energy leakage from the power cell from electrocuting the wielder.

Focusing Lens

Main article: Focusing lens

The focusing lens regulated the beam of a lightsaber, allowing the blade it produced to terminate at a given point. Different types of lenses yielded different properties in the lightsabers that they were built into; in addition, like most other parts of these weapons, they required skilled craftsbeings to produce. However, they were often commercially available, or even salvageable.

Crystal

Main article: Lightsaber crystal

Possibly the most vital component, lightsaber crystals were any variety of crystals, gems, stones, or other objects used as the focus in the construction of a lightsaber. At the heart of every lightsaber was a set of crystals that resonated to produce the efficient, powerful blade. While the most common crystals used in the process were from the Adega system, Ilum, and Dantooine, Jedi and Sith used a variety of crystals from many sources to produce various colors, effects and unique abilities. Some crystals could even enhance the Force skills of a particular user. Other gems, such as colored crystals or diamonds, were used exclusively for prismatic effects. However not all lightsaber crystals were actually crystals at all. There were plenty of exceptions where a Jedi or Sith would use a different material or substance in place of a crystal, such as physical remains, shards of glass, and even special micro machinery.

Emitter Matrix

Main article: Emitter matrix

The emitter matrix was a crucial component of the lightsaber. A saber's blade was emitted out the handle through the emitter matrix which kept a tight magnetic grip on the beam and allowed it to reliably extend to a predetermined length.

Emitter

Main article: Blade emitter

The emitter was the end of the lightsaber that projected the blade. It contained connections to the matrix that channeled the plasma of the blade through it, a magnetic ring that generated the containment field that controlled the flow of the blade, the negatively charged fissure that channeled the plasma back to the power cell.

Cutting Power

A lightsaber blade was a mass-less form that neither radiated heat nor expended energy until it came into contact with something solid. The power of the energy blade was so great that it could cut through almost anything, although the speed through which it cut depended on the density of the subject. One important note about lightsaber wounds is that they rarely bleed profusely, even when a limb had been severed. This is because the energy blade cauterized the wound as it passed, and thus even a severe wound did not tend to bleed heavily.

When cutting through dense material, the immense electromagnetic field generated by the arc causes resistance rather than letting solid matter enter and interrupt the arc. This gives the blade a feeling of being solid when immersed in dense material. Rarely, some solid materials can actually pass through the electromagnetic field and short out the arc. Other Electromagnetic energy fields and coherent energy are also repelled by lightsabers' arcs. These include most force fields, blaster bolts, and other lightsaber blades.

Lightsaber Resistant Materials

Aside from the blade of another lightsaber, there were rare materials that could withstand a lightsaber blade, but with varying degrees of success:

• Cortosis, although a rare and expensive metal, was a common defense against lightsabers. One of the reasons it was so expensive was the need to refine it. Pure, unrefined, Cortosis ore was, for unexplained reasons, ionized and anyone who touched it would be killed instantly. There were three known methods of forging cortosis armor and weapons, each with varying effects.
• Phrik, was a rare metallic compound that could withstand a lightsaber blade, although unlike cortosis, Phrik did not possess the ability to cause the blade to short out. Phrik was most notably used in the construction of the electrostaffs wielded by General Grievous's MagnaGuards. Other notable uses of Phrik included elements of Palpatine's lightsaber and Dark Trooper armor.

• Darkswords were an ancient type of sword made from a special material that could parry lightsabers. Unlike cortosis, this material did not possess the ability to temporarily deactivate a lightsaber blade it made contact with.
• Armorweave was a cloth said to give some resistance to lightsabers, although the protection the reinforced material afforded was limited.
• Sith Alchemy was employed during the eras of the first Sith Empire to augment the properties of metals so as to counter the seemingly unstoppable lightsaber. The Sith also made use of such elements as cortosis in the forging of their Sith swords. After the original Sith Empire, the most notorious use of Sith alchemy was in the construction and reinforcement of Darth Vader's armor.
• Mandalorian iron: A metal used by the Mandalorian warriors.
• Force Weapon: Weapons imbued with the power of the Force could be used to parry a lightsaber's blade without harm.
• Water: All lightsabers, unless specially made,^[17] would short out when they were submerged in water, due to rapid chain reactions and the instant overpowering of water on the blade. In rain, a lightsaber would steam up, but not short out.^[18]

Other counteracting materials existed in the galaxy, such as various energy shields. Some animals, such as lava dragons, were possessed of natural armor that reflected the blade. Superconductive materials (such as Ultrachrome) have a degree of resistance to lightsaber strikes. The skin of the Tikulini worms of Jazbina was able to withstand a lightsaber strikes.^[19]

Weapon Variations and Specializations

Hilt Variations

Standard Lightsaber

The standard lightsaber consisted of a straight hilt approximately twenty to thirty centimeters long. As it is the standard make, it has no defining features other than details on individual hilts, as each weapon is often self-fabricated by the wielder and customized to suit his or her personal specifications.

Electrum Lightsaber

The only difference that electrum lightsabers have compared to the standard is the fact that their casing is built of the golden electrum metal. A purely cosmetic accessory, this feature is only allowed to high-ranking members of the Jedi Order, being a prestigious honor bestowed on masters who have demonstrated their strength and skill.^[20]

Jedi Master Mace Windu and the Sith Lord Darth Sidious are both known to have wielded electrum lightsabers.

Protosaber

Main article: Protosaber

Before the Sith-pioneered advancement in lightsaber technology after the Hundred-Year Darkness, lightsabers had significantly higher power requirements, necessitating the use of belt-mounted power packs. These packs were connected to the hilt by a long, slender cord. While a massive advancement over the highly unstable original lightsabers, archaic protosabers were eventually rendered obsolete by the advances in power cells that allowed them to be miniaturized and the inclusion of the superconductor technology that allowed the energy of the blade to return to the hilt, creating an energy loop that only lost power when interrupted, such as when a lightsaber cut something.^[20]

However, even though the original protosabers were fazed out, their basic design was not forgotten, and was applied to the construction of the "retrosabers". Essentially a recreation of the archaic lightsaber, only using modern components, retrosabers, as they were dubbed by their creators, were just a potent as modern lightsabers but with a few advantages. One of these advantages is that the use of a modern belt-mounted power pack allowed for a more powerful blade, though this was only a temporary advantage as after a while the lightsaber begins to burn out, weakening the blade, although it continues to function.^[20]

Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Main article: Double-bladed lightsaber

Main article: Paired lightsabers

Also referred to as saberstaffs and Sith lightsabers, the latter due to their invention by and common association with the Sith, double-bladed lightsabers consisted of a single lightsaber hilt that projected a blade from both ends, resulting in a deadly staff-like weapon. Most saberstaff hilts were of increased length, as they usually consisted of two separate lightsabers connected at the pommels, though there were exceptions to this.^[4]

According to the Tedryn holocron, saberstaffs were first invented by the Sith Lords of the old Sith Empire, possibly by the original Dark Jedi exiles themselves.^[3] The first recorded usage of the weapon was by the Sith Lord Exar Kun, who obtained the schematics for the weapon from a Sith holocron, using them to modify his existing Jedi lightsaber into the deadly weapon.

The usage of double-bladed lightsabers eventually gave rise to the use of paired lightsabers. As many double-bladed lightsabers were simply two separate lightsabers joined at the pommel, this was taken advantage of and the connection was done with a locking mechanism rather than a solid weld, allowing the two weapons to be wielded as a saberstaff or wielded separately. Many duelists use the paired function to surprise enemies in combat, either by appearing to wield dual-blades before connecting the hilts, or the reverse.^[13] Other versions of the paired lightsaber had the weapons joined by a fiber cord instead of a locking mechanism, a where wielded by being flailed about by the cord, exchanging ease of control for extreme unpredictability.^[21]

Guard Shoto

Main article: Guard shoto

A variation on the standard shoto short lightsabers, guard shotos featured an elongated hilt with a secondary handle built angling 90 degrees out from the main hilt. They were built to be carried by the second handle, with the blade parallel to the forearm, allowing the weapon to be easily used for blocks. Due to the defensive nature of the weapon, it is recommended that the casing be machined out of lightsaber-resistant phrik alloy.^[20]

Fallen Jedi Maris Brood was known to have wielded a pair of guard shotos.^[22]

Curve-Hilted Lightsaber

Main article: Curve-hilted lightsaber

Curve-hilted lightsabers are a type of hilt that features hilt with a built in curve. This is usually done to allow the hilt to fit better into the palm, facilitating the use of one-handed fighting styles such as Makashi, or to provide variable blade angle to confuse opponents.^[13][23]

Crossguard Lightsaber

Main article: Crossguard lightsaber

An extremely rare lightsaber variant only seen in the hands of skilled duelists, crossguard lightsabers, also known as forked lightsabers, feature a specialized hilt that emits two blades. One blade is the standard lightsaber blade, but the second is a significantly shorter and thinner blade projected by a secondary emitter next to the main at an angle out from the hilt. The secondary blade is used as a guard to protect the hand, and on occasion to catch attacks between it and the main blade, aiding in defense.^[20]

The Jedi Master Roblio Darte was known to have wielded a forked lightsaber.

Long-Handle Lightsaber

Main article: Long-handle lightsaber

Built to cater to specific fighting styles, long-handle lightsabers obviously featured a lengthened handle that provided the duelist with more surface area to place his hands, and providing more leverage for power attacks.^[20] The length of long-handled lightsabers varies considerably, with some examples, such as the weapon of Warb Null simply being double the length of standard hilts, and others, such as Darth Nihl's weapon, being staffs with a lightsaber blade on the end.^[4]

Lightsaber Pike

Main article: Lightsaber pike

Resembling pole-arms in many respects, lightsaber pikes feature extremely long handles, up to two meters long, with a somewhat shorter and thicker lightsaber blade. The handle is machined from phrik alloy to prevent it from being cut in two, as the purpose of the weapon is to provide vastly increased range. These weapons are heavily favored by members of the Emperor's Shadow Guard, with other wielders including the Jedi Kazdan Paratus.^[22]

Blade-type Variations

Training Lightsaber

Main article: Training lightsaber

Main article: Sith training saber

Training lightsabers were essentially regular lightsaber, only engineered with a permanent low-power setting, rather than the adjustable setting featured on standard weapons. As their name indicates, training lightsabers were used for instructional purposes, teaching initiates how to wield a lightsaber. Due to their permanent low-power setting, training lightsabers were extremely limited in the type of damage they could cause, the most severe injuries being burns and serious bruises. In fact, the weapon was so weak that an individual could physically grab the blade and suffer no injury besides the burns and bruises.^[24]

While the most common version of the training lightsaber was an actual lightsaber set to low power, there were exceptions to the rule. The Sith training lightsaber was not an actually lightsaber, but a mock hilt with a metal blade that was balanced to imitate a real lightsaber. These weapons were relatively unremarkable save for one thing; the Sith trainers covered the blade of the training weapon with millions of microscopic toxin-filled barbs taken from the Pelko bug on Korriban. The toxin had the effect of causing localized paralysis in the afflicted area, mimicking the effect of losing a limb in combat, as well as causing poison burns.^[13]

Dual-Phase Lightsaber

Main article: Dual-phase lightsaber

While most lightsabers featured a built-in length adjust, Dual-phase lightsabers allowed for rapid transitions between two sets of preset lengths. The dual-phase lightsaber was originally conceived early in history, being used for the purpose of lightsaber dueling. The most common usage at the time would be to switch between a standard length blade and one of increased length as a surprise tactic during lightsaber duels. In more contemporary times, however, it is more common to have the secondary length be a shortened blade for use as a precision cutting tool.^[3]

Known wielders of Dual-phase lightsabers include Darth Vader, whose blade increases in length by approximately half a meter,^[14][25] and Dooku, whose blade drops in length in order to be wielded as a short sword for devastating surprise attacks.^[23]

Shoto

Main article: Shoto

Essentially, a shoto was a short lightsaber. Featuring a shortened blade length and diminuative handle, it was basically a miniaturized lightsaber. Shoto's were usually used as the secondary weapon in dual-blade combat, as their smaller blade length resulted in a less intensive gyroscopic effect, making the weapon easier to handle. Shotos were also used a primary weapons by some duelists, most who did so being of diminuative size, making a full sized lightsaber impractitcal, though this is not always the case. Examples of this would be duelists such as Vandar Tokare, Picaroon C. Boodle or Yoda.

Other duelists known to have wielded shoto's in combat include Kavar, Sora Bulq, Luke Skywalker and many others.

Lightclub

Main article: Lightclub

Essentially the opposite of the shoto, lightclubs were massively oversized lightsabers that projected overlong blades. They were almost universally wielded by individuals of overlarge stature to accomidate their size. An example of such a being would be the mutated Gamorrean Dark Jedi; Gorc.

Lightwhip

Main article: Lightwhip

Lightwhips were exotic variations on the typical lightsaber that saw only rare usage. Like a lightsaber, it emitted a coherent beam of energy, but instead of a straight meter-long blade, it was several meters in length and flexible. Wielded in a whip-like manner, they were used to attack opponents at a range and provide an element of unpredictability in combat. However, they were significantly weaker than standard lightsabers, and their blades were ineffective defensively.

Lightwhip wielders include Githany, Lumiya, Silri, and a few others.

Lightfoil

Main article: Lightfoil

Lightfoils were small and elegant energy swords based upon lightsabers. They were popular among certain nobles of the Tapani sector, especially those that called themselves "saber rakes". Lightfoils were weaker than authentic lightsabers due to the poor quality focusing crystals used in their manufacture and the relatively low level of craftsmanship compared to Jedi artisans. They did not require any connection to the Force to create, and were fully usable by non-Force sensitives.

Underwater

Main article: Bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulse

While most lightsabers shorted out when the blade touches water, this blade was made to operate underwater due to two crystals employed in a bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulse.^[3] Generally only Jedi from aquatic races would go to the trouble of constructing a waterproof saber, as only they had the mobility to use it effectively underwater. However, there were several other non-aquatic lightsaber-wielders who modified their weapons, so they were functional underwater.

Usage and Applications

Lightsaber Combat

Main article: Lightsaber Combat

Lightsaber combat was the preferred method of fighting used by lightsaber wielders, many of the forms and styles being designed to compensate for the gyroscopic effect inherent in lightsabers, and take advantage of the Force-sensitivity common in many wielders. The different styles of lightsaber dueling were initially based on ancient sword-fighting techniques. Throughout the millennia, these many combat styles were refined into the seven "classic" forms that serve as the standard, and numerous other fighting methods that call for advanced levels of skill. Lightsaber combat was difficult to master for a number of reasons, one of them being that all of the weight a lightsaber had was in its hilt, and the gyroscopic effect caused resistance to changes in motion, or built up momentum so quickly than an untrained wielder could lose control of the weapon. The gyroscopic effects were easily controlled by a trained force user, but could become problematic for lay person.

Although the blade was weightless, two-handed slashes were the most common movement. This was because inertia was still needed to cut through solid objects. Solid objects were repelled by the blade arc until they were changed to gas or plasma. Therefore, inertia was required to counteract the initial repelling force. The stronger the swing, the faster and easier the blade would cut. If little force was applied to the swing, the repelling force of the blade arc would leave shallow cuts. When two lightsaber blades came in contact with each other, the two repelling forces made the blade appear to be solid. If the lightsaber is dropped, the blade will retract automatically, so the user will not be injured.

It had been said that only a Force-sensitive individual could completely master lightsaber combat. All seven traditional lightsaber forms included the same basic techniques as ancient sword-fighting styles, such as defensive postures, overhand strikes, parries, and counterstrikes. The lightsaber was a very versatile weapon, owing to its unique lightness and omni-directional cutting ability. It could be wielded one-handed or with both hands. Early in the weapon's history, when the Sith and other Darksider groups or individuals were numerous, the art of lightsaber dueling flourished. In later periods though, only rarely would Jedi face an adversary with a melee weapon capable of repelling a lightsaber.

The Jedi were trained to use the Force as a conduit between the wielder and the weapon. Through this bond in the Force, the blade became an extension of their being; it moved with instinct as though it were a part of the body. The Jedi's attunement to the Force accounted for the almost superhuman agility and reflex illustrated in the use of the lightsaber.

Lightsaber Rituals

Knighting Ceremony

Lightsabers were an integral part of the Knighting Ceremony of the Jedi Order. During the ceremony, a Padawan would have his Padawan-braid ritualistically severed by the presiding Jedi master. This event would often be witnessed by a number of fellow Jedi, who would stand in a circle around the Padawan with their lightsabers ignited.^[26]

Only three Sith "knighting" ceremonies are known, and a lightsaber was only used during one of them. In the first, Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma are simply declared Dark Lords of the Sith by the spirit of Marka Ragnos, who proceeds to brand their foreheads with Sith etchings. This ceremony was highly informal. The christening of Darth Vader was a great deal more formalized, though this ceremony was still very brisk, with Darth Sidious simply making Anakin Skywalker take vows of fealty to the Sith Order before bestowing his Sith name.^[27]

The only Sith knighting ceremony that utilized a lightsaber was Galen Marek's. Marek was made to kneel before his master while Darth Vader simply lowered his lightsaber next to both sides of Marek's head, formally declaring the Force Adept his apprentice.^[22]

Concordance of Fealty

The Concordance of Fealty was the Jedi tradition of entrusting one's lightsaber to a fellow member of the Jedi Order. This exchange represented a serious, even sacred bond. The exchange represented the establishment of a reciprocal, master-less learning relationship.

Behind the Scenes

Early Concepts

The usage of the lightsaber was originally inspired by many of the movies serials that George Lucas watched and enjoyed as a child, which featured many characters wielding swords. When he began conceiving Star Wars, he wished to include swords, creating the "lightsaber" to allow them to better mesh with the futuristic setting.^[28]

In the early incarnations of the Star Wars storyline, lightsabers were not exclusive to the Jedi and other Force-users, but were in fact very mundane. Early concept art depicts lightsabers being wielded by Rebel and Imperial soldiers alike. George Lucas later limited the lightsabers to being exclusively Jedi weapons in order to make them feel more unique, and heighten the mystique of the Jedi.^[29] Also, in early drafts of the script, lightsabers were referred to as "lazerswords".

Crystals first appear in the Star Wars mythos simply as an embedded decoration on the hilt in the A New Hope novelization.^[30] Aside from this single instance, there are no crystals mentioned in any of the movies or their novelizations.^[30][31][32]

Prop Design and Effects

During the filming for the original trilogy, the Anakin/Luke lightsaber hilt was made from a Graflex camera side-attach flash, while the Darth Vader lightsaber was made from a Micro Precision Products flash attachment. The handle grips were made of rubber windscreen wipers, and D-rings were attached to the bottoms of the units so that they could be worn on a belt. The Obi-Wan lightsaber from the original trilogy was the most complex hilt at the time. It was assembled from parts of an Armitage Shanks Starlite model Handwheel, Browning ANM2 machine gun booster, WWI No.3 Mk.1 British Rifle Grenade and a Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.8/Mk.9 Jet Engine Balance Pipe.

The lightsaber effects during the original trilogy started out in a very complicated manner. During the filming or Star Wars Episode IV, the blade was made of a three-sided rod covered with reflective material. The rod was then rapidly spun by a compact motor in the hilt, reflecting the lights on set and creating an in-camera glowing effect. However, these props were highly limited; they were cumbersome and fragile, often breaking during fight scenes. Also, the glowing effect was not absolute, as whenever the blade moved out of the light or pointed at the camera, the glow disappeared and the actual spinning rod could be seen. In order to partially compensate for this, the blade was rotoscoped and an animated glow was added by tracing onto a blown-up copy of the frame with pen and colored ink, one frame at a time. It was at this phase that blades were given different colors, as the blade props were simple white blades, as per the original concept.^[28][29]

During the filming of Episode V, it was decided that attempting to create an in-camera glowing effect was more trouble than it was worth, so the original spinning rods were swapped out for carbon rods. While these new blades were much less cumbersome than before, they were still very fragile and frequently broke. However, they continued to be used for Episode VI.^[28]

When filming began for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the new lightsaber blades were steel and aluminum rods, which were highly durable, but frequently bent and flexed, requiring constant replacement.^[33] Despite this, these rods still saw usage during the filming of Episode II, as they had no alternative at the time. However, for the filming of Episode III, they did. The blades were replaced by carbon fiber rods laminated with glass and plastic. These new props were highly durable and didn't flex, though due to this, they were extremely hard, often causing bruising and leaving scars.

Also, while the lightsaber effect was still done by rotoscoping for the prequel trilogy, it was done digitally rather than with pen and ink..^[29]

Choreography

While the usage of lightsabers was originally inspired by the rapiers featured in the old movie serials George Lucas enjoyed, the final choreography in Star Wars Episode IV looked nothing like rapier fencing. As Jedi and their Sith counterparts were heavily inspired by Japanese Samurai, the fighting styles utilized were based more off of Kendo, a Japanese martial art.^[34] The slower, more strength-oriented moves of Kendo used in the duel also helped mesh with George Lucas' concept that it was a battle between what were essentially two old men.^[28]

During the filming of The Empire Strikes Back, George Lucas began ramping up the speed of the lightsaber duels, making them "faster and more intense", the idea being that Luke Skywalker was becoming increasingly proficient with the lightsaber.^[28] Also, rather than utilize David Prowse, the actor within the Darth Vader costume, for the duels, they instead had professional swordsman Bob Anderson perform the fights, due to Prowse's tendency to repeatedly break the fragile prop blades. Anderson continued to serve as Prowse's fighting-double during the filming of Return of the Jedi.

When filming began for the prequel trilogy, the new stunt coordinator Nick Gillard ramped up the speed and agility the Jedi characters demonstrated in lightsaber duels. The idea being that the prequel trilogy took place when the Jedi Order was in "full flower", at least in terms of combat techniques.^[28] Gillard was careful to avoid giving the fight scenes a choreographed look, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of martial arts to create the moves.^[35]

The end result was a very fast-paced style of fighting, which Gillard described as being like a chess game between grand masters, with every move being a check. This style of choreography was continued on throughout the prequel trilogy.^[35]

Appearances

This list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it. Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith Tales of the Jedi: Fall of the Sith Empire Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War Tales of the Jedi: Redemption Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 44: The Reaping, Part 2 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords Darth Bane: Path of Destruction Darth Bane: Rule of Two Jedi vs Sith Bane of the Sith Darth Bane: Rule of Two Legacy of the Jedi Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War Jedi Apprentice: The Hidden Past Jedi Apprentice: The Mark of the Crown Jedi Apprentice: The Defenders of the Dead Jedi Apprentice: The Uncertain Path Jedi Apprentice: The Captive Temple Jedi Apprentice: The Day of Reckoning Episode I Adventures Game Book 4: Jedi Emergency Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Hidden Enemy" Star Wars: The Clone Wars film / novel / junior novel Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Ambush" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rising Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Shadow of Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Destroy Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rookies" The Clone Wars: Wild Space Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Downfall of a Droid" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Duel of the Droids" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Cloak of Darkness" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Lair of Grievous" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Dooku Captured" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Gungan General" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Jedi Crash" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Defenders of Peace" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Trespass" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Blue Shadow Virus" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Mystery of a Thousand Moons" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Storm Over Ryloth" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Innocents of Ryloth" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Liberty on Ryloth" Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Hostage Crisis" The Clone Wars: No Prisoners Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Holocron Heist" The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Cargo of Doom" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Children of the Force" Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Senate Spy" Yoda: Dark Rendezvous Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Imperial Commando: 501st Star Wars: Purge Star Wars Dark Times 14: Blue Harvest, Part 2 The Force Unleashed (novel) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel) Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Dark Apprentice I, Jedi Shadows of Coruscant in Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook Star Wars Invasion: Refugees Dark Nest I: The Joiner King Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen Dark Nest III: The Swarm War Betrayal Bloodlines Tempest Exile Sacrifice Inferno Fury Revelation Invincible Outcast Omen Star Wars Legacy 39: Tatooine, Part 3 Star Wars Legacy 40: Tatooine, Part 4

Non-canon appearances

• Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope
• Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi
• Star Wars Tales Volume 1
• Star Wars Tales Volume 2
• Star Wars Tales Volume 3
• Star Wars Tales Volume 4
• Star Wars Tales Volume 5
• Star Wars: Visions of the Blade
• Soulcalibur IV
• Landing at Point Rain

Sources

Star Wars toy line Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back toy line Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1985) Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire toy line Star Wars: Expanded Universe toy line Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995) Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook Star Wars Encyclopedia Star Wars: Episode I toy line Star Wars: Power of the Jedi Star Wars: Behind the Magic Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Movie Scrapbook Episode I: The Visual Dictionary  The Lightsaber Armory on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)  Jedi Swordplay on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)  More Than Just Stunts on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Movie Scrapbook Power of the Jedi Sourcebook Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive The New Essential Chronology "Fightsaber: Jedi Lightsaber Combat" - Star Wars Insider 62 Star Wars Gamer Magazine, Issue #8  Jedi Counseling #49 on Wizards.com (article)  Jedi Counseling #55 on Wizards.com (article) Jedi Council: Acts of War  Manaan: Depths of History on Wizards.com (article) Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide "Classic Moment" - Star Wars Insider 102  Behind the Threat: The Sith, Part 1: Portrayal on Wizards.com (article) Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide "Classic Moment" - Star Wars Insider 105 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia "Millennium Man" - Star Wars Insider 106 "Sound Unleashed" - Star Wars Insider 106 "The Tale of Team Encyclopedia and the Very Big Saga" - Star Wars Insider 106 "Classic Moment" - Star Wars Insider 107 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: First Generation Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Old Republic Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Sith Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: Third Generation Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Padawan Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Dark Jedi Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Agents of Deception (Card: Lightsaber Assembly) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Agents of Deception (Card: Second Generation Lightsaber) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Agents of Deception (Card: Lightsaber Experimentation) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Agents of Deception (Card: Lightsaber Shackle) Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Shadow Syndicate (Card: Weapon of Defense) Jedi Academy Training Manual The Essential Atlas  Lightsaber in the Databank  Sith lightsaber in the Databank

Notes and References

External links

• Lightsaber on Wikipedia
•  Lightsaber in the Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia

	Lightsabers
Combat	Duel · Dun Möch · Fast style · Medium style · Strong style · Form "Zero" · Mounted · Niman/Jar'Kai · Sokan Three rings of defense · Trispzest · Tràkata
Forms	I: Shii-Cho · II: Makashi · III: Soresu · IV: Ataru · V: Shien / Djem So · VI: Niman · VII: Juyo / Vaapad
Techniques	Cho mai · Cho mok · Cho sun · Dulon · Faalo's cadences · Faalo's Will · Falling Leaf · Flowing Water · Jedi ready · Jung · Jung ma · Kai-kan · Lus-ma · Mou kei · Sai · Sai cha · Sai tok · Sequence · Shiak · Shiim Shun · Su · Sun djem · Twin Suns · Velocities
Variations	Crossguard lightsaber · Curved-hilt lightsaber · Dual-phase lightsaber · Double-bladed lightsaber Imperial Knight lightsaber · Lightclub · Lightfoil · Lightwhip · Long-handle lightsaber Lightsaber pike · Protosaber · Shoto / Guard shoto · Training lightsaber / Sith training saber
Lightsaber-resistant materials	Armorweave · Cortosis · Darkswords · Force Weapon · Mandalorian iron · Neuranium · Orbalisks · Phrik Sith alchemy · Ultrachrome
Technology	Blade emitter · Crystal · Diatium power cell · Emitter matrix · Focusing lens · Hilt · Inert power insulator · Pommel cap