Lightsaber

Lore & Background

In the Star Wars universe, the lightsaber is the signature weapon of the light-side-wielding Jedi Order and the dark-side-wielding Sith Order. However, the lightsaber can also be wielded by non-Force-sensitive characters as an ordinary weapon or tool. The Jedi use lightsabers of various colors: most commonly blue and green, but also purple and yellow. The Sith wield red-bladed sabers to distinguish themselves from the Jedi. Others include white for independent Force-sensitive characters. The color of a lightsaber's blade is given by its kyber crystal, whose color is determined by a Jedi's connection to the Force. A lightsaber's hilt is built by its wielder and is, therefore, unique in design. There are several variations outside of the traditional single-bladed lightsaber, such as the double-bladed lightsaber, the curved-hilted lightsaber, crossguard lightsabers, and the Darksaber.

In Their Own Story

The hum of the engine fills the void as the first beat drops. Your vision is split by the crimson glow of the left blade and the electric blue of the right. A red block materializes ahead, spinning with a downward arrow; you instinctively swing your left saber in a sharp arc, slicing it into particles that scatter like fireworks. Immediately after, a wall rushes toward you, forcing a crouch as the sabers lower to avoid impact. The music builds, and the stream of blocks accelerates, turning the arena into a dance of light and precision.

Reader's Guide

An active lightsaber gives off a distinctive hum, which rises in pitch and volume as the blade is moved rapidly through the air. The blade can cut, burn, and melt through most substances with little resistance. Lightsabers can deflect blaster bolts, allowing a wielder with Jedi reflexes to turn an enemy's own gunfire against them. It can be deflected by another lightsaber blade, which produces a loud crackle; by energy shields; or by the metals beskar and phrik. The blade has been used to weld metal, and has been shown to leave both cauterized wounds and bleeding wounds in flesh.

Did You Know?

• The lightsaber's distinct appearance was created using rotoscoping for the original films, and with digital effects for the prequel and sequel trilogies.
• In 2008, a survey of about 2,000 film fans found the lightsaber to be the most popular weapon in film history.
• The lightsaber sound effect was developed by sound designer Ben Burtt as a combination of the hum of a film projector's interlock motor and the buzz from a television set's picture tube.
• For the original Star Wars film, the film prop hilts were primarily constructed by John Stears and his team, using Graflex flash handles and other parts, with Roger Christian contributing as a set decorator and prop make