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Lightsaber crystal

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Pontites, the rarest type of Adegan lightsaber crystal.

A lightsaber crystal was a term used to describe 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 (in the so-called "Crystal Cave"), Jedi and Sith used a variety of crystals 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.

Contents

[edit] Preparation

A lightsaber crystal cave

Before placing the crystal in the lightsaber, the Jedi or Sith must imbue them with the Force. To do this, the Force-user must meditate on the crystals for many days. Luke Skywalker meditated on his crystals in Ben Kenobi's home for many days with only R2-D2 to keep him company.[1]

While the Jedi used natural crystals, the Sith often used red-hued synthetic crystals. Sith-made synthetic crystals create a slightly more powerful blade when energized by the dark side of the Force, occasionally demonstrating the ability to "break" Jedi lightsaber blades, disrupting the energy circuit and shorting out the weapon. However, this rarely happened, and as synthetic crystals demonstrated a slightly lower amount of manueverabiltiy, this advantage was very slim. Darth Sidious made Darth Maul use a special furnace to make his own crystals. Maul worked constantly for several days to make the four crystals needed for his double-bladed lightsaber. Their creation required intense concentration, as Darth Maul had to use the Force to make them the proper shape and to ensure that the crystals were free from impurities. He was particularly proud of this achievement and believed it to be an example of the Sith's superiority over the Jedi.

However, it should be noted that Sidious did not make his subsequent apprentices—Tyranus and Vader—create their crystals in such a manner, instead supplying them himself.[2][3]

Luke Skywalker's synth-crystal generated blade.

Luke Skywalker used a special furnace he found in Obi-Wan Kenobi's home to prepare his crystal.[1] In both Skywalker and Maul's cases, the creator channeled their Force energies into the crystals as it was formed, making it unique in every way, including in color.

Around 4,000 BBY, lightsaber crystals were used to indicate a Jedi's chosen class. Blue indicated a Jedi Guardian, a Jedi who used the Force on a more physical level. Green indicated a Jedi Consular, a Jedi who preferred to ponder the mysteries of the Force and fight the dark side at its heart. Yellow indicated a Jedi Sentinel, a Jedi who honed their skills in a balance of combat and scholarly pursuits.

This distinction fell out of practice in later years when most Jedi used blue or green crystals, based on the supply on the various source worlds. Purple, yellow, and orange crystals were still used by some Jedi until the the fall of the Jedi Order, but they were exceedingly rare, and often passed down through generations. [source?] The Galactic Empire banned trade and possession of all lightsaber crystals.

During the Great Sith War epoch, many lightsabers were created using Kunda Stones, a natural geologic formation from the planet Kadril, in place of crystals. These stones boasted numerous practical applications in medicine and communications; however, when added to other focusing crystals, they produced a broader beam.

[edit] Known lightsaber crystals

There were a number of different stones, minerals, and crystals that could be used in the construction of a lightsaber. Some jewels were known for creating different colors and effects in the lightsabers in which they were placed. Often, the rarer the crystal, the more powerful its effects on a lightsaber was.[4]

Anakin Skywalker constructs his lightsaber, using a crystal from the caves of Ilum.

[edit] Known color crystals

For millennia, the Jedi Order lit lightsabers in every color and hue imaginable. However, following the Battle of Ruusan, the hues of most available crystals had been limited to either blue or green. Lightsaber color crystals could also be compressed, resulting in a pulsating blade, or they could be unstable, resulting in a core which swirled and sparkled. The following is a list of all known blade colors.

Galen Marek wielding a black-bladed lightsaber.

[edit] Behind the scenes

Crystals first appeared in the Star Wars mythos simply as an embedded decoration on the lightsaber hilt in the A New Hope novelization.[8] Aside from this single instance, there are no crystals mentioned in the original trilogy or its novelizations.[8][9][10]

Most crystals with special properties were from various video game and role playing game sources. Since these special powers were often a function of game play, and not of the storyline, it is questionable if these powers are truly canon. However, since there are several examples of crystals with special powers in actual storylines (e.g. Lambent, Kaiburr, etc.), it is generally accepted that other crystals had special powers as well.

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shadows of the Empire novel
  2. ↑ Attack of the Clones: Visual Dictionary
  3. ↑ Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
  4. ↑ Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Star Wars Galaxies
  6. ↑ Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
  7. ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)
  9. ↑ Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (novel)
  10. ↑ Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)

[edit] See also

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
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