4 Iconic Lightsaber Designs

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Every Jedi’s lightsaber is a bit different. Fans all have their ideas about what makes any particular saber the best Star Wars lightsaber. Everything from the color of the blade to the style of the handle is hotly debated. These four iconic lightsabers all have their unique place in Star Wars lore.

Darth Vader’s Red Saber

There is something uniquely menacing about Vader’s old school red saber. The saber, which was based on the weapon he lost when he was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, featured a black ringed handgrip with matching black power-cell chamber. Vader is said to have constantly tinkered with his saber over the years, always seeking to create a more powerful weapon.

Luke Skywalker’s Green Saber

Obi-Wan gifted Luke his father’s original blue saber when the pair first met on Tatooine in “A New Hope.” Luke lost that saber when Vader cut off his hand in “The Empire Strikes Back.” In “Return of the Jedi,” Luke reveals that he has constructed a new saber. Luke based his new saber on schematics he found in Obi-Wan’s hut on Tatooine. Because of the efforts of the Empire to rid the galaxy of the Kyber crystals traditionally used in lightsaber construction, Luke was forced to fabricate a synthetic green crystal for his weapon. 

Darth Maul’s Double-Bladed Saber

In “The Phantom Menace,” Darth Maul was the first force user to debut a double-bladed lightsaber. Darth Maul constructed the double-bladed weapon to compensate for his inability to compete with the physical abilities of a Jedi he had been sent to assassinate. Maul constructed two single-bladed lightsabers, based on Sith schematics, and then welded them together. Like Luke, Maul fashioned synthetic crystals for his weapon. 

Kylo Ren’s Crossguard Saber

Kylo Ren’s crossguard saber is probably one of the most controversial in the Star Wars universe. Some fans thought the unique design and jagged blade made Kylo’s saber the best Star Wars lightsaber, while other fans thought the design didn’t make any sense. Kylo’s saber is the first in the Saga to feature a crossguard, which is said to serve as a vent for the heat generated by the cracked Kyber crystals used in its construction. 

As the Star Wars universe has expanded, so has the variety of lightsabers seen on screen. New colors, styles and unique features have been introduced with each new trilogy, giving fans a lot of choices for their favorite design.