Lightsaber
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
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| Lightsaber | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer |
Largely self-fabricated |
| Model |
Largely custom-make |
| Type |
Melee |
| Physical and technical specifications | |
| Size |
Varies, usually 20-35 cm long |
| Usage and history | |
| Era(s) | |
| Affiliation |
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- "This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary."
- ―Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]
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 |
History
Origins
- "According to the Holocrons, the earliest lightsabers were crude devices that utilized an experimental "frozen blaster" technology to create an energy beam of fixed length."
- ―Tionne Solusar[src]
With the formation of the Jedi Order after the Force Wars, ceremonial weapons became an integral part of their order. For millennia afterwards, the Jedi used bladed weapons like 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
- "…these archaic lightsabers were barely portable; their energy requirements necessitated a flexible cable that connected a lightsabers handle to a power pack worn on a Jedi's belt."
- ―Tionne Solusar[src]
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 saw a great deal of use during the period of the Hundred-Year Darkness.
Sith Usage
It seems 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 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 power supply problem. According to the Tedryn Holocron, the Sith also created the schematics for the first Double-bladed lightsabers.[3][4] Wielders of these original modern lightsabers include Karness Muur, a Dark Jedi who had wielded an archaic lightsaber, but later switched to a curve-hilted modern lightsaber.[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 synthetic lightsaber crystals, which was 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. 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. With the Sith defeat at the end of the war, modern lightsabers were adopted by the Jedi order. By 4,800 BBY, they were almost universally utilized by Jedi, though some, like Odan-Urr, held stubbornly to the use of protosabers.
When the Great Sith War, Jedi converts who flocked to Exar Kun's banner continued using their Jedi lightsabers, disregarding the tradition lain down by Sith Lords of the original Sith Empire. However, other innovations entered their ranks, with Kun himself modifying his lightsaber into a double-bladed lightsaber, using schematics from a Sith holocron.[3] While Exar Kun's insurrection ultimately failed, he did introduce the double-bladed lightsaber to the Jedi, 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 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. Brandishing a red lightsaber and reestablishing the synth-crystal tradition, Haazen caused the deaths of numerous Jedi,[7] before dying in the destruction of the Draay Estate.[8]
Jedi Civil War
The Jedi Civil War was a conflict started by former Jedi Revan and Malak in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars. During their conflict against the Mandalorians, Revan found evidence regarding the survival of the Old Sith Empire. In order to prepare the Republic for conflict with the Sith, Revan decided to attack the Republic himself in order to unify it. Creating a new Sith Empire of his own, he waged war for several years, attracting numerous rogue and Dark Jedi to his cause. 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 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.
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 lightsabers.[9]
Great Galactic War
- "Restrain yourself, Jedi. We came here to discuss peace."
- ―Baras, to Satele Shan[src]
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
- "Toward the end of the Old Republic era, Ilum was the primary source of most crystals used for lightsabers; this dramatically limited the color range, as the crystals harvested from Ilum produce only blue and green blades."
- ―Tionne Solusar[src]
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.
Jedi Purge and Reformation
- "Most sources for lightsaber crystals were razed or quarantined during the reign of Emperor Palpatine."
- ―Tionne Solusar[src]
With the occurrence of the Great Jedi Purge and the founding of the Galactic Empire, lightsabers became rare antiques. The few lightsabers that could be found were either hidden away or circulated on the black market, as Emperor Palpatine made their possession and use illegal among all but his own servants, such as Darth Vader, the Emperor's Hands or the Emperor's 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.[16]
Dark Side Resurgent
After his death and resurrection, Palpatine let slip the usage of traditional Dark Side blades, wielding a blue blade in combat himself and only forcing Luke to wield one during the latter stages of his brief apprenticeship under Sidious. However, most of his Force-using servants were only Dark Jedi, not true Sith, and so were not bound by tradition.
After Palpatine's final death, there remained several Dark Side cults and groups either formed by surviving Dark Jedi. A notable group were the Reborn. Due to the large number of Dark Jedi within the Reborn, supplied by a special cloning method that granted Force-sensitivity, Desann was forced to manufacture lightsabers for the group. 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, 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.
Many years later, as the Imperial Remnant recovered in strength, they also formed a new Force Order; the Imperial Knights. The Knights were noted for their self-fabricated weapons, although they all followed the same design and used silver crystals in their weapons. This helped individualize their weapons but still mark them out as Imperial Knights.
Emperor Roan Fel eventually formed an alliance with the Sith, led by Darth Krayt. While the Empire and the Sith worked together, the Sith turned on the Empire and usurped the throne, causing a civil war within the Empire.
The lightsaber construction methods of the Sith differed from the Jedi and Imperial Knights in that many of their lightsabers were apparently constructed from a material similar to the Yorik coral used by the Yuuzhan Vong. They also utilized synthetic crystals, in observance of tradition.
Mechanics and Specifications
Mechanics
The typical lightsaber hilt consisted of a metal cylinder between twenty and thirty-five centimeters in length. However, the size of individuals hilts varied 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. Below is a list of the primary part almost all lightsabers needed to use to function properly:
- Lightsaber hilt
- Pommel cap
- Diatium power cell
- Inert power insulator
- Focusing lens
- Lightsaber crystal
- Emitter matrix
- Blade emitter
Cutting Power
- "My Master taught me that a lightsaber can cut through anything."
- ―Exar Kun[src]
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]
Variations and Specializations
Hilt Variations
Standard Lightsaber
- The standard lightsaber consisted of a straight hilt approximately 20 to 30 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 their specifications.
Electrum Lightsaber
The only difference electrum lightsabers have compared to the standard is 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]
Protosaber
Main article: Before the advancement in lightsaber technology after the Hundred-Year Darkness, lightsabers had significantly higher power requirements, necessitating belt-mounted power packs; these packs were connected to the hilt by a cord. While a massive advancement over the highly unstable original lightsabers, protosabers were eventually rendered obsolete by miniaturized power cells 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, protosabers 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 as potent as modern lightsabers but with a few advantages. One of these advantages was a modern belt-mounted power pack that allowed for a more powerful blade, although this was only a temporary advantage.[20]
Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Also referred to as saberstaffs and Sith lightsabers, double-bladed lightsabers consisted of a single 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.[4]
According to the Tedryn holocron, saberstaffs were first invented by the Sith Lords of the old Sith Empire.[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.
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 together or separately. Many duelists used the paired function to surprise enemies in combat.[13] Other versions of the paired lightsaber had the weapons joined by a fiber cord instead of a locking mechanism. Being wielded meant they flailed about by the cord, exchanging control for unpredictability.[21]
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]
Crossguard Lightsaber
An extremely rare 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. The secondary blade is used as a guard to protect the hand, and on occasion to catch attacks between it and the main blade.[20]
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][22]
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
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.
Blade Variations
Training Lightsaber
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.[23]
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
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 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 shorter precision cutting.[3]
Known wielders of dual-phase lightsabers include Darth Vader, whose blade increases in length by approximately half a meter,[14][24] and Dooku, whose blade drops in length in order to be wielded as a short sword for surprise attacks.[22]
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
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 is the mutated Gamorrean Dark Jedi; Gorc.
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 others.
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
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
Lightsaber combat was the preferred fighting method 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 most 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.
Lightsaber Rituals
Knighting Ceremony
- "Step forward, Padawan. Anakin Skywalker, by the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, dub thee I do… Jedi… Knight of the Republic."
- ―Yoda[src]
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.[25]
- "You were weak when I found you. I did not expect you to survive your training. Now your hatred has become your strength, at last, the Dark side is your ally. Rise, my Apprentice."
- ―Darth Vader "knighting" Galen Marek.[src]
Only three Sith "knighting" ceremonies are known, and a lightsaber was only used during one of them. 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.[26]
Concordance of Fealty
- "Master Eeth Koth, I have something to return to you. It is a product of your own hands which you once entrusted to mine. In returning this lightsaber, I return your trust."
- ―Mace Windu[src]
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 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.[27]
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 exclusively the Jedi in order to make them feel more unique, and heighten the mystique of the Jedi.[28] Also, in early drafts of the script, lightsabers were referred to as "lazerswords".
Crystals first appear in Star Wars simply as an embedded decoration on the hilt in the A New Hope novelization.[29] Aside from this single instance, there are no crystals mentioned in any of the movies or their novelizations.[29]
Prop Design and Effects
During the original trilogy's filming, the Anakin/Luke lightsaber was made from a Graflex camera side-attach flash, while the 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 belts. The Obi-Wan lightsaber 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 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 colors, as the props were simple white blades.[27][28]
During the filming of Episode V, it was decided creating an in-camera glowing effect was more trouble than it was worth, so the spinning rods were swapped for carbon rods. While these new blades were less cumbersome than before, they were still very fragile and frequently broke. However, they continued to be used for Episode VI.[27]
When filming began for The Phantom Menace, the new lightsaber blades were steel and aluminum rods, which were highly durable, but frequently bent and flexed, requiring constant replacement.[30] 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, 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. While lightsaber effects was still done by rotoscoping for the prequels, it was done digitally.[28]
Choreography
While the usage of lightsabers was originally inspired by the rapiers featured in the old serials George Lucas enjoyed, the final choreography in 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.[31] 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.[27]
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.[27] 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.[27] Gillard was careful to avoid giving the fight scenes a choreographed look, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of martial arts to create the moves.[32]
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.[32]
