View source for Lightsaber

{{Short description|Fictional sword}}
{{For|the song|Lightsaber (song)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox fictional artifact
| name            = Lightsaber
| image           = Lightsaber Skywalker.png
| caption         = [[Anakin Skywalker]]'s lightsaber
| alt             = Lightsaber with blue beam
| first           = [[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope]] {{no italic|(1977)}}
| first_type      = blue
| creator         = [[George Lucas]]
| episode_creator = 
| source          = [[Star Wars]]
| source_type     = franchise
| company         = [[Lucasfilm]] 
| type            = Energy sword
| genre           = [[Science fiction]]
| traits          =
| affiliation     = {{ubl|[[Jedi]]|[[Sith]]|[[Inquisitorius]]|[[Knights of Ren]]|[[Mandalorians]] ([[Darksaber (fictional weapon)|''Darksaber'']])}}
| uses            = {{ubl|Dueling|[[Blaster (Star Wars)|Blaster]] bolt deflection|Cutting through solid materials|Deflecting [[Force lightning]]|Light source}}}}
A '''lightsaber''' is a [[fictional]] [[energy sword]] featured throughout ''[[Star Wars]]''. A typical lightsaber is shown as a luminous laser sword about {{convert|3|ft}} in length emitted from a metal [[hilt]] around {{convert|10.5|in|cm}} in length.<ref name="proparchives.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.proparchives.com/science-fiction/science-fiction-1970s/star-wars-a-new-hope/star-wars-a-new-hope-prop-light-sabre|via=proparchives.com|title=''Star Wars A New Hope'' prop light sabre|date=December 21, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827103808/http://www.proparchives.com/science-fiction/science-fiction-1970s/star-wars-a-new-hope/star-wars-a-new-hope-prop-light-sabre|archive-date=August 27, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> Introduced in the [[Star Wars (film)|original ''Star Wars'' film]],{{EpIV}} it has since appeared in all 12 theatrical ''Star Wars'' films, with at least one lightsaber [[duel]] occurring in each installment of the "[[Skywalker Saga|Skywalker saga]]". The lightsaber's distinct appearance was created using [[rotoscoping]] for the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original films]], and with [[visual effects|digital effects]] for the [[prequel trilogy (Star Wars)|prequel]] and [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|sequel]] trilogies.

In the ''Star Wars'' [[Fictional universe|universe]], the lightsaber is the [[signature weapon]] of the [[The Force|light-side]]-wielding [[Jedi|Jedi Order]] and the [[The Force|dark-side]]-wielding [[Sith|Sith Order]]. However, the lightsaber can also be wielded by non-[[The Force|Force-sensitive]] characters as an ordinary weapon or tool.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsabers a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=Becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=8 |language=English}}</ref> The Jedi use lightsabers of various colors: most commonly blue and green, but also purple, white, black, and yellow. The Sith wield red-bladed sabers to distinguish themselves from the Jedi. The color of a lightsaber's blade is given by its kyber crystal, whose color is determined by a Jedi's connection to the [[The Force|Force]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsabers a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=6 |language=English}}</ref> 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 (most famously wielded by [[Darth Maul]]), the curved-hilted lightsaber (wielded by [[Asajj Ventress]] and most famously by [[Count Dooku]]), [[crossguard]] lightsabers (used by [[Kylo Ren]] and occasionally by Jedi), and the [[Darksaber (fictional weapon)|Darksaber]], forged by the Mandalorian Jedi [[Mandalorians#Tarre Vizsla|Tarre Vizsla]], but primarily wielded by the non-Force-sensitive [[Mandalorians|Mandalorian]] rulers of Mandalore (including [[Pre Vizsla]] and [[Bo-Katan Kryze]]).

An active lightsaber gives off a distinctive hum, which rises in pitch and volume as the blade is moved rapidly through the air. As presented in the early films, the blade can cut, burn, and melt through most substances with little resistance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hidalgo |first=Pablo |title=Star Wars: Lightsaber a guide to weapons of the force |publisher=becker&mayer |year=2018 |location=Washington USA |pages=57 |language=English}}</ref> Lightsabers can deflect [[Blaster (Star Wars)|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 shield]]s; or by the metals beskar (found in [[Mandalorian armor]]) and phrik (the metal used to create electrostaffs). Some exotic saber-proof [[List of Star Wars weapons#Melee|melee weapons]] have been introduced in the [[Star Wars expanded to other media|Expanded Universe]] as well as later episodic films. The blade has been used to weld metal, and has been shown to leave both [[cauterization|cauterized]] wounds and bleeding wounds in flesh. 

The lightsaber has become one of the most widely recognized elements of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. In 2008, a survey of about 2,000 film fans found it to be the most popular weapon in film history.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Sophie Borland|date=January 21, 2008|title=Lightsabre wins the battle of movie weapons|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576154/Lightsabre-wins-the-battle-of-movie-weapons.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1576154/Lightsabre-wins-the-battle-of-movie-weapons.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2008-01-26}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/teHu8Njm5HE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160131183902/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHu8Njm5HE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|last=The Game Theorists|date=31 January 2016|title=Game Theory: ''Star Wars'' Lightsaber Vs ''Halo'' Energy Sword|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHu8Njm5HE|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Prop construction==
{{quote box | quote=Covered with millions of tiny glass beads, [Scotchlite] has the property of reflecting light directly back to its source. It's the same material used for reflective road signs [and lightsaber props]. | source=''—Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic''<ref name="Special Effects"/>| align=right | width=25% }}
For the original ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' film, the [[Theatrical property|film prop]] [[hilt]]s were constructed by [[Roger Christian (filmmaker)|Roger Christian]] from old Graflex [[press camera]] [[flash (photography)|flash]] battery packs and other pieces of hardware,<ref>{{cite web | title=Star Wars set decorator tells how lightsaber was born | website=BBC Home | date=2017-12-15 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42369174 | access-date=2025-08-08}}</ref> while special effects that brought the blade to life on screen were made by [[John Stears]]. The full-sized sword props were designed to appear ignited onscreen, by later creating an "in-camera" glowing effect in post-production. 
The blade is a three-sided rod which was coated with a [[Retroreflective sheeting|Scotchlite]] [[retroreflector]] array, the same sort used for [[Cat's eye (road)|highway signs]].<ref name="Special Effects">{{cite book | title=Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic | first=Ron | last=Miller | location=Minneapolis | publisher=Twenty-first Century Books | date=2006 | oclc=60419490 | isbn=9780761329183 | page=89 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTIMIDNIVg8C&pg=PA89 | quote=...a material called Scotchlite. Covered with millions of tiny glass beads, it has the property of reflecting light directly back to its source. It's the same material used for reflective road signs (and the glowing light sabers in ''Star Wars'', which were sticks wrapped in Scotchlite).}}</ref> A lamp was positioned to the side of the taking camera and reflected towards the subject through 45-degree angled glass so that the sword would appear to glow from the camera's point of view.

Set decorator Roger Christian found the handles for the [[Graflex]] Flash Gun in a photography shop in [[Great Marlborough Street]], in London's [[West End of London|West End]].<ref>{{cite news|title=How the lightsaber was born|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42369174|access-date=20 December 2017|publisher=BBC|date=15 December 2017|type=video interview|archive-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031160610/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/42369174/star-wars-set-decorator-tells-how-lightsaber-was-born|url-status=live}}</ref> He then added cabinet T-track to the handles, securely attaching them with [[Cyanoacrylate|cyanoacrylate glue]]. Adding a few "[[greeble]]s" (surface details), Christian managed to hand-make the first prototype of a lightsaber prop for [[Luke Skywalker]] before production began. [[George Lucas]] decided he wanted to add a clip to the handle, so that Luke could hang it on his belt. Once Lucas felt the handle was up to his standards, it went to John Stears to create the wooden dowel rod with front-projection paint so that the animators would have a glow of light to enhance later on in post production. Due to lack of preparation time, Christian's prototype and a second spare were used for the shooting in Tunisia, where filming on ''Star Wars'' began.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Jonathan | last=Wilkins |title=Roger Christian: Galaxy Builder |journal=Star Wars Insider |issue=98 |date=February 2008 |publisher=Titan Magazines |location=United States |issn=1083-4486 |pages=17-21| url=https://archive.org/details/starwarsinsider_1_to_153_plus_specials/Star%20Wars%20Insider%20098%20(2008)/page/n13/mode/2up}}</ref> It was discovered, however, that the glowing effect was greatly dependent on the rod's orientation to the camera, and during the [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]]/[[Darth Vader]] duel, they could clearly be seen as rods. Because of this, the glow would be added in post-production through rotoscoping, which also allowed for diffusion to be employed to enhance the glow.

While original trilogy hilts were typically constructed using found parts, during the prequel and sequel trilogies a different process was sometimes used. Hilts were first machined out of metal materials. Then casts would be made using the metal hilts to create resin copies that were used on screen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherwood |first=Seth |date=July 1, 2018 |title=The Lightsaber Prop Guidebook |url=https://wannawanga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SW_Lightsaber_Guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310061412/http://wannawanga.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SW_Lightsaber_Guide.pdf |archive-date=2018-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> The resin was often molded over a metal rod that a dueling blade could be attached to for fight sequences.

=== Visual effects ===
Korean [[animator]] [[Nelson Shin]], who was working for [[DePatie–Freleng Enterprises]] at the time, was asked by his manager if he could animate the lightsaber in the live-action scenes of a film. After Shin accepted the assignment, the live-action footage was given to him. He drew the lightsabers with a [[rotoscope]], an animation which was superimposed onto the footage of the physical lightsaber blade prop. Shin explained to the people from Lucasfilm that since a lightsaber is made of light, the sword should look "a little shaky" like a fluorescent tube. He suggested inserting one frame that was much lighter than the others while printing the film on an [[optical printer]], making the light seem to vibrate. Shin also recommended adding a [[degaussing|degausser]] sound on top of the other sounds for the weapon since the sound would be reminiscent of a magnetic field. The whole process took one week, surprising his company. Lucasfilm showed Shin the finished product, having followed his suggestions to use an [[X-Acto]] knife to give the lightsaber a very sharp look, and to have sound accompany the weapon's movements.<ref>{{Cite news| title = Interview with Nelson Shin| publisher = [[CNN]]| date = November 9, 2007| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/talkasia.nelsonshin/index.html| access-date = July 27, 2008| archive-date = June 28, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201834/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/talkasia.nelsonshin/index.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Sound===
The lightsaber [[sound effect]] was developed by sound designer [[Ben Burtt]] as a combination of the hum of idling [[Movie projector#Automation and the rise of the multiplex|interlock motors]] in aged movie projectors and interference caused by a television set on a shieldless [[microphone]]. Burtt discovered the latter accidentally as he was looking for a buzzing, sparking sound to add to the projector-motor hum.<ref name="Burttlaserdisc">{{citation|author=Burtt, Benn|author-link=Ben Burtt|title=[[List of changes in Star Wars re-releases#Laserdisc editions|Star Wars Trilogy: The Definitive Collection]] |publisher=[[Lucasfilm]] |quote=...the microphone passed right behind the picture tube and as it did, this particular microphone produced an unusual hum. It picked up a transmission from the television set and a signal was induced into its sound reproducing mechanism, and that was a great buzz, actually. So I took that buzz and recorded it with the projector motor sound and that fifty-fifty kind of combination of those two sounds became the basic Lightsaber tone."|year=1993}}</ref>

The pitch changes of lightsaber movement were produced by playing the basic lightsaber tone on a loudspeaker and recording it on a moving microphone, generating [[Doppler shift]] to mimic a moving sound source.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why We Still Love Star Wars: Lightsaber 101|work=[[Parade magazine]]|date=December 3, 2017|pages=9|quote=The lightsaber wooshing sounds are created by waving a microphone in front of a speaker playing humming and buzzing noises.}}</ref>

==Depiction==
Lightsabers were present in the earliest drafts as mundane plasma weapons that were used alongside laser guns.<ref>{{citation|last=Lucas|first=George|title=The Star Wars, story synopsis|date=May 1973|url=http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwarstreat_5-73.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507210727/http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwarstreat_5-73.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-07 |url-status=live|quote=An alarm sounds. The rebels are forced to fight their way out of the prison with "multiple lazer guns" and swords.|author-link=George Lucas}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Lucas|first=George|title=The Star Wars, rough draft|date=May 1974|url=https://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwars_rough5-74.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418031358/http://maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/starwars_rough5-74.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-18 |url-status=live|quote=Ten troopers break out of the ranks and take up the chase. Starkiller runs down a corridor and rounds a corner, reaching a dead end. The troops round the corner and confront the trapped Jedi.}}</ref> The introduction of [[the Force]] in a later revision made the Jedi and the Sith supernaturally skilled; initially, they were only portrayed as swordsmen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-lightsabers-1567641737|title=13 Things You Probably Don't Know About Lightsabers|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=April 25, 2014|work=gizmodo.com|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101190354/http://io9.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-lightsabers-1567641737|url-status=live}}</ref> The lightsaber became the Force-user's tool, described in ''[[Star Wars (film)|A New Hope]]'' by Obi-Wan Kenobi as "not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, from a more civilized age".<ref>{{citation |last=Lucas |first=George |title=[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope]] |year=1977}}</ref> The source of a lightsaber's power is a '''kyber crystal'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1601340/what-are-kyber-crystals-and-why-are-they-important-to-star-wars |title=What Are Kyber Crystals, And Why Are They Important To ''Star Wars''? |publisher=CinemaBlend |first=Eric |last=Eisenberg |date=December 18, 2016 |access-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227061827/http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1601340/what-are-kyber-crystals-and-why-are-they-important-to-star-wars |url-status=live }}</ref> These crystals are also the power source of the [[Death Star]]'s superlaser.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/death-star-superlaser|title=Death Star Superlaser|publisher=StarWars.com|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302144814/https://www.starwars.com/databank/death-star-superlaser|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]|title=[[A Death on Utapau]]}}</ref>

In films such as ''[[Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith|Revenge of the Sith]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi|The Last Jedi]]'', melee weapons such as the [[electrostaff]] and plasma-lined blades deflect lightsabers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Electrostaff|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/electrostaff|access-date=2020-06-29|website=StarWars.com|language=en|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920032602/https://www.starwars.com/databank/electrostaff|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hidalgo|first=Pablo|title=Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Visual Dictionary|publisher=DK Publishing|year=2017|isbn=9781465455512}}</ref>

===Types===
Lightsabers are depicted as hand-built as part of a Jedi's or Sith's training regimen. Each lightsaber is unique, though some may bear resemblance to others, especially if there is a connection between the builders. The hilt of most lightsabers is straight and predominantly cylindrical, though there are other lightsaber hilt types. The first film appearance of a dual-bladed lightsaber (first depicted in the comic series ''[[Tales of the Jedi (comics)|Tales of the Jedi]]'') was in ''[[Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]'', wielded by [[Darth Maul]]; it consists of two regular lightsabers joined at their butt ends each producing a blade independently. [[Count Dooku]], beginning with the character's first appearance in ''[[Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones|Attack of the Clones]]'', is shown to have a lightsaber with a curved hilt. The video game ''[[The Force Unleashed|Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]]'' introduced two other variants: a lightsaber pike (a lightsaber with a shorter blade but a long handle, resembling a spear) and a [[Tonfa]]-style lightsaber with right-angle hilt. Additionally, in several spin-off series such as ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]'' and ''[[Star Wars Rebels|Rebels]]'', special variants of the lightsaber have been depicted - such as the lightsaber-blaster wielded by [[Ezra Bridger]]. 

The [[Star Wars expanded universe|''Star Wars'' expanded universe]] adds several lightsaber types, including short<ref name="KOTOR1">{{cite video game|title=[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (video game)|Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]] |developer=[[BioWare]] |publisher=[[LucasArts]] |date=November 19, 2003 |platform=PC }}</ref> and dual-phase (adjustable length) weapons.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anderson |first=Kevin J. |author-link=Kevin J. Anderson |title=[[Dark Apprentice]] |publisher=[[Bantam Spectra]] |series=[[The Jedi Academy Trilogy]] |year=1994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Foster |first=Alan Dean |author-link=Alan Dean Foster |title=[[Splinter of the Mind's Eye]] |publisher=[[Ballantine Books]] |year=1979}}</ref> In ''Star Wars Rebels'', Ezra Bridger's original lightsaber is a hybrid that features a fully functional [[blaster (Star Wars)|blaster pistol]] built into the handle. [[Kylo Ren]], introduced in ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens|The Force Awakens]]'', uses a lightsaber that features two [[crossguard|crosshilt]] blades, giving it the appearance of a [[greatsword]]. His blade also has an unstable, fiery appearance, explained in canon reference books as stemming from a cracked kyber crystal.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pinchefsky |first=Carol |title=Kylo Ren's janky lightsaber, explained |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/kylo-rens-janky-lightsaber-explained |website=SyFy Wire |access-date=October 18, 2019 |date=December 31, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003032/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/kylo-rens-janky-lightsaber-explained |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Inquisitors of the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]] are depicted as wielding a unique variation of a double-bladed saber, mounted on a rotating ring enabling the blades 360 degrees of rotation and short-term flight capability. More obscure lightsaber variations, such as the "lightwhip", an elongated flexible blade used in a manner akin to a [[whip]], the "lightclub", an enlarged standard lightsaber, and the "shoto", a dramatically smaller variation often paired with a standard sized saber have also made appearances.

===Colors===
Lightsabers in the first two released films, ''A New Hope'' and ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', had blades that were either blue (for the Jedi) or red (for the Sith). [[Luke Skywalker]]'s new lightsaber in ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' was colored blue during the initial editing of the film, and appears so in both an early movie trailer and the official theatrical posters; it was later changed to green in the film's final edit after initial viewings and screen tests by the filmmakers, who felt that it would better stand out against the blue sky of [[Tatooine]] in outdoor scenes, and this color change is also reflected in the film's re-release posters. [[Mace Windu]]'s purple-bladed lightsaber, as first seen in ''Attack of the Clones'', was requested by the actor [[Samuel L. Jackson]], who believed the color, which is his personal favorite, would make his character be easily recognized among other Jedi.{{Efn|[[Ki-Adi-Mundi]] and [[Saesee Tiin]] had previously been depicted in {{nowrap|spin-off}} works with purple lightsabers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Paul|date=August 22, 2015|title=Ki-Adi-Mundi - EI - Basic Research Droids Reviews|url=https://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=2282|access-date=2020-06-06|website=JediTempleArchives.com|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606231404/https://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=2282|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Saesee Tiin (Power Of The Jedi)|url=https://jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=761|access-date=2020-06-14|website=JediBusiness.com|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614071510/https://jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=761|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} Jackson is known to frequently request that the characters he plays use an item that is purple in color.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ubyo5eZz_Jc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130630062201/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubyo5eZz_Jc&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubyo5eZz_Jc|title=Samuel L. Jackson's Purple Light Sabre - ''The Graham Norton Show'': Series 13 Episode 13|last=BBC|date=June 28, 2013|publisher=[[BBC One]]|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=May 10, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|''The Clone Wars'']] showed the guardians of the Jedi Temple wielding yellow-bladed lightsabers, and, at the end of ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker|The Rise of Skywalker]]'', Rey is shown to have built a yellow-bladed lightsaber using part of her staff as the hilt.

As depicted in ''The Clone Wars'' and ''Rebels'', the builder of a lightsaber finds a kyber crystal and meditates with it until the crystal acquires a color. The color of this crystal becomes the blade's color when installed into a lightsaber hilt. In the book ''[[Ahsoka (novel)|Star Wars: Ahsoka]]'' and the comic series ''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'', it is shown that dark side users remove the crystal from a defeated Jedi's lightsaber and concentrate Force energy on it to break its connection to the light side, a process known as "bleeding" to create a red crystal. The process can also be reversed, as shown in ''Ahsoka'', when the titular character does so to a pair of crystals taken from an Inquisitor. She uses them in the pair of white-bladed lightsabers she builds at the end of the novel.

Other colors have appeared in various [[Star Wars expanded to other media|expanded media]] projects, including many video games where the player can select their character's lightsaber color.

==== Darksaber ====
The Darksaber is a unique lightsaber that has a distinct black blade with a white halo, introduced in ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' (2008) and subsequently appearing in ''[[Star Wars Rebels]]'', where it is described as an ancient lightsaber created by Tarre Vizla, the first [[Mandalorian]] to become a Jedi, and later serves as a symbol of Mandalorian authority in the hands of [[Bo-Katan Kryze]]. According to Mandalorian tradition, the weapon cannot simply be given; it must be won from a defeated combatant. It subsequently appears briefly in the hands of [[Moff Gideon]] in the [[Chapter 8: Redemption|season one finale]] of ''[[The Mandalorian]]'', to whom Kryze had previously surrendered the weapon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darksaber|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/darksaber|website=StarWars.com|access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Darksaber?|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/what-is-the-darksaber|date=February 11, 2020|last=Knox|first=Kelly|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221195525/https://www.starwars.com/news/what-is-the-darksaber|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-darksaber-the-bl-1840779738 | title = Everything You Need to Know About the Darksaber, the Black Blade That Freed Mandalore | first = James | last= Whitbrook | date = January 3, 2020 | access-date = January 3, 2020 | work = [[io9]] }}</ref> By the end of [[Chapter 16: The Rescue|the second season's finale]], it belongs to series protagonist [[The Mandalorian (character)|Din Djarin]], who has bested Gideon for it. In [[Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore|the second episode]] of the [[The Mandalorian (season 3)|third season]] of the show, the weapon (nominally) returns to Kryze's ownership, after she defeats a cyborg creature that captures Djarin (it remains in Din Djarin's possession, however), and she officially reclaims the blade in the season's [[Chapter 22: Guns for Hire|sixth episode]]. It is destroyed by Gideon in the [[Chapter 24: The Return|third season finale]].

===Choreography===
The technical lightsaber choreography for the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy was developed by [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] sword-master [[Bob Anderson (fencer)|Bob Anderson]]. Anderson personally trained [[Mark Hamill]] (Luke Skywalker) and, in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', performed all the stunts as [[Darth Vader]] during the lightsaber duels wearing Vader's costume. Anderson's role in the trilogy was highlighted in the film ''[[Reclaiming the Blade]]'' where he shared his experiences as a fencer developing the lightsaber techniques for the three original movies.

The lightsaber duels in the ''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy were specifically choreographed by stunt-coordinator [[Nick Gillard]] to be miniature "stories". For these films, Gillard was the primary sword instructor for [[Liam Neeson]] ([[Qui-Gon Jinn]]), [[Ewan McGregor]] (Obi-Wan Kenobi), [[Ray Park]] (Darth Maul) and [[Hayden Christensen]] (Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader) among other actors. His goal in choreographing the action for ''The Phantom Menace'' was to create stunts that flow from the story; "You can't just think, 'I'm a [[stunt coordinator]], I'm going to make a big stunt happen'," Gillard said. "It's all about making it tie in nicely with the film so that you don't notice the stunts."{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In writing the prequel trilogy, George Lucas said he wanted the lightsaber combat to be "reminiscent of what had been done in the previous films but also something that was more energized. We'd seen old men, young boys, and characters who were half-droid, but we'd never seen a Jedi in his prime. I wanted to do that with a fight that was faster and more dynamic—and we were able to pull that off."<ref>{{Cite book| last1 = Bouzereau| first1 = Laurent| last2 = Duncan| first2 = Jody| title = Star Wars: The Making of Episode I: The Phantom Menace| place=New York| publisher = Ballantine Publ. Group| year = 1999| edition = Hardcover| isbn =0-345-43111-1}}, page 99</ref>

According to Gillard, various lightsaber combat styles, or forms, were devised for the prequels and intended to further [[Characterization|characterize]] their practitioners.

{{blockquote|I developed different styles for the characters, and gave each of them a flaw or a bonus. So with Obi-Wan Kenobi, for instance, he's got a very business-like style—when he was younger he could border on the flashy and might twirl his lightsaber a bit, because he was taught by Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was brash, that rubbed off on Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan then taught Anakin, who was way too old to learn anyway... I think the style really worked well. The Jedi style of fighting is an amalgamation of all the great [[swordsmanship|swordfighting]] styles. Melding them together is the difficult part—to move from a [[Kendo]] style to, say, [[rapier]] requires a complete change in body and feet movement, and this must look effortless. The style moves seamlessly between the different disciplines, but remains technically correct throughout.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with stunt co-ordinator Nick Gillard (Mr. Optimism)- March 2004 |url=http://desiringhayden.net/pressarchive/2009/02/25/interview-with-stunt-co-ordinator-nick-gillard-mr-optimism-march-2004/ |website=Desiring Hayden.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717044923/http://desiringhayden.net/pressarchive/2009/02/25/interview-with-stunt-co-ordinator-nick-gillard-mr-optimism-march-2004/ |archive-date=17 July 2012 |date=March 2004|access-date=2009-06-21}}</ref>}}

For ''The Phantom Menace'', Gillard set out certain styles and faults for the saber-wielding characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theforce.net/videogames/story/Nick_Gillard_Talks_ROTS_Game_92147.asp |publisher=[[TheForce.Net]] |title=Nick Gillard Talks ROTS Game |date=May 8, 2005 |access-date=2008-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207005209/http://www.theforce.net/videogames/story/Nick_Gillard_Talks_ROTS_Game_92147.asp |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}</ref> He added that the Jedi's use of such "a short-range weapon" meant "they would have to be very good at it"; combining a variety of disciplines from various sword fighting styles to martial arts "with a touch of tennis and tree chopping", he created the style seen in the ''Episode I'' lightsaber battles.<ref>[https://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/me1/6.html Episode I Video: Prime of the Jedi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701224021/http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/me1/6.html |date=2008-07-01 }} -(part of the "Making Episode I" series).</ref>

For ''The Force Awakens'', director [[J. J. Abrams]] decided to approach the choreography similarly to how it was done in the original trilogy. Abrams stated that the prequel trilogy choreography was "increasingly spectacular and stylized, almost like dance choreography", but that was not what they really wanted to go for in the new films.<ref Name="Star Wars News Net">{{cite web|url=http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/11/new-revelations-from-empires-new-issue-on-the-force-awakens.html|title=New Revelations From Empire's New Issue on The Force Awakens|first=Viral|last=Hide|work=starwarsnewsnet.com|date=November 27, 2015|access-date=22 December 2016|archive-date=February 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220155423/http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2015/11/new-revelations-from-empires-new-issue-on-the-force-awakens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He told ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine, "When you look at ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' and ''[[The Empire Strikes Back|Empire]]'', they are very different lightsaber battles, but for me they felt more powerful because they were not quite as slick. I was hoping to go for something much more primitive, aggressive and rougher, a throwback to the kind of heart-stopping lightsaber fights I remembered being so enthralled by as a kid."<ref name="Star Wars News Net"/>

== Cultural impact ==
{{see also|Cultural impact of Star Wars}}
[[File:Lightsaber chopsticks.jpg|thumb|upright|Lightsaber [[chopsticks]]]]

=== Merchandise ===
Over the years, advancements in technology have allowed for the creation of increasingly immersive and realistic lightsaber replicas.

==== Disney Parks ====
[[Disneyland]] in California sells lightsaber-themed [[churro]]s outside its ''[[Star Tours]]'' attraction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/food/Star-Wars-Lightsaber-Churros-Disneyland-43518052|title=Disneyland Now Has Sparkly Lightsaber Churros, and We Need Them ASAP|first=Victoria|last=Messina|publisher=[[PopSugar]]|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510152745/https://www.popsugar.com/food/Star-Wars-Lightsaber-Churros-Disneyland-43518052|url-status=live}}</ref>

Disneyland and Disney World (Hollywood Studios) also sell legacy lightsabers which are replicas of the lightsabers seen used by the Jedi, Sith, and other warriors in the movies and television shows such as Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rey Skywalker, Count Dooku, and Kylo Ren.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities | website=disneyland.disney.go.com | url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/dok-ondars-den-of-antiquities/ | access-date=11 March 2024 | archive-date=September 20, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920115249/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/dok-ondars-den-of-antiquities/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Vk6lXy2q8so Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190921215641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk6lXy2q8so&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=All Star Wars Legacy Lightsabers Review Dok Ondar Galaxy's Edge Walt Disney World|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk6lXy2q8so|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Disneyland and Hollywood Studios also offer Savi's Workshop, a place where guests can build their own lightsaber and choose their own kyber crystal, thereby changing the blade color of their own unique lightsaber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/|title=Savi's Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers|website=Disneyland|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420234542/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/jpxBJxVht00 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200329202445/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpxBJxVht00 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=FULL Savi's Workshop Custom Handbuilt Lightsaber Experience in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpxBJxVht00|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Savi's Workshop - Handbuilt Lightsabers |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/shops/hollywood-studios/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/ |website=Walt Disney World |access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref>

Besides Savi's Workshop, there is another custom lightsaber experience. The Star Trader at Disneyland offers guests a chance to build their own lightsabers, without first paying 200 dollars for the experience.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Star Trader |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/star-trader/ |website=Disneyland |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803043202/https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/star-trader/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Attractions ===
The ''[[Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple]]'' is a live show where children are selected to learn the teachings of the [[Jedi]] Knights, [[the Force]], and the basics of Lightsaber combat to become [[Jedi|Padawan learners]]. The show is present at the [[Rebel Alliance|Rebels]] stage next to [[Star Tours – The Adventures Continue]] attraction at [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] and at the [[Tomorrowland Terrace]] at Disneyland.
Additionally, [[Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser]] has incorporated lightsaber training for each guest aboard the spacecraft during their stay. The training is led by the Saja cast members and teaches the fourth form of lightsaber combat, Ataru, to the guests. Both lightsabers and shields are used during training since the guests learn to use Ataru to deflect incoming projectiles. There is no lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat in this attraction and guests must be at least seven years old to participate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Experience Highlights During Your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Adventure |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/experience-highlights/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017221027/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/experience-highlights/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Similar weapons ===
The [[virtual reality]] [[rhythm game]] ''[[Beat Saber]]'' involves the player using two lightsabers in order to slash a series of oncoming cubes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.windowscentral.com/beat-saber-everything-we-know-about-vr-rhythm-game|title=Beat Saber: Everything we know about the VR rhythm game|last=Hunt|first=Cale|date=April 5, 2018|website=Windows Central|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120222745/https://www.windowscentral.com/beat-saber-everything-we-know-about-vr-rhythm-game|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[Kamen Rider Black RX]], the main character, Rider RX also known as Kotaro Minami, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Revolcane" to fight the Crisis Empire, a terrorist organization.

In Saban's Masked Rider, the main character, known as Dex Stewart, uses his lightsaber-ish weapon "Electro Saber" to fight Masked Rider's foes.{{Citationneeded|date=May 2024}}

In ''[[Andor (TV series)|Andor]]'', [[Luthen Rael]]'s Fondor haulcraft is equipped with two beam emitters that deployed stable and sustained laser bolts not unlike those on a lightsaber. These beam weapons were highly effective at slicing enemy starfighters at close range, but they took a relatively long time to charge.
==== Parodies ====
In the 1987 film ''[[Spaceballs]]'' by [[Mel Brooks]], "the Schwartz" is a play on "[[the Force]]", from ''Star Wars''. The lightsabers emanate from the Schwartz-rings, rather than a hilt.  The cartoon series ''[[Futurama]]'' features many lightsaber-style weapons, notably expanding batons used by police. The batons glow and "whoosh" with a lightsaber's distinctive hum, but are used to beat people. In Jim Butcher's ''[[Dresden Files]]'' novel series, medical examiner and ''Star Wars'' fan [[Waldo Butters]] wields one of the three holy Swords of the Cross, which re-fashions itself into a lightsaber upon accepting him as its owner. In [[Yuya Sato (novelist)|Yuya Sato]]'s ''[[Danganronpa: Togami]]'' [[light novel]] trilogy, main antagonist [[List of Danganronpa characters#Orvin Elevator|Orvin Elevator / Kazuya Togami]] wields a lightsaber built into their prosthetic arm, to which they are berated for copyright infringement by [[Toko Fukawa|Genocider Syo / Genocide Jack]]; in the [[anime]] ''[[Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School]]'', this same lightsaber is instead depicted as a flaming mechanical ''[[katana]]'' wielded by [[Kyosuke Munakata]].

=== Games ===
With the advent of [[motion controller|motion-controlled]] [[video game]]s, players were given the opportunity to wield an in-game lightsaber with their own hands. In the [[seventh generation of video game consoles]], there were several [[Star Wars video games|''Star Wars'' video games]] available on the [[Wii]] (''[[Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga]]'', ''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]]'', ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels]]'', ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes]]'' and ''[[Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars]]'') and one on the [[Xbox 360]] (''[[Kinect Star Wars]]'') that utilized motion controls to wield a lightsaber through arm gestures. ''Unleashed'' and ''Duels'', both developed by [[Krome Studios]], have more precise control of the lightsaber, allowing players to swing it in any of five different directions (up, down, left, right or forward) with the [[Wii Remote]], while ''Kinect'' takes advantage of [[Kinect#Kinect for Xbox 360 (2010)|the eponymous, camera-based motion controller]] to grant the player a more fluid, one-to-one control method of swinging the lightsaber.

Prior to the seventh generation, there were also a few earlier ''Star Wars'' games that used gesture-based control to simulate lightsaber combat, such as the two bonus levels of the [[arcade game]] ''[[Star Wars Trilogy Arcade|Star Wars Trilogy]]'', where the player controls Luke Skywalker as he wields his lightsaber against [[Boba Fett]] and Darth Vader in ''Return of the Jedi'' by pushing a joystick in one of eight directions to follow on-screen offensive and defensive cues,<ref name="SWTA overview at AllGame">{{cite web|title=Lightsaber|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15820|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15820|archive-date=2014-01-01|url-status=dead|website=[[All Media Network#AllGame|AllGame]] | first=Christopher Michael | last=Baker | access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref> and a [[TV game]] released around the time ''Revenge of the Sith'' came to theaters, titled ''Star Wars: Saga Edition – Lightsaber Battle Game'', in which the player swings a lightsaber-shaped controller to deflect blaster bolts from infantry (such as [[battle droids]] and [[clone trooper]]s) and duel against characters from across the saga.

By the time [[Disney]] purchased Lucasfilm, new technological advances made [[augmented reality]] possible, leading to the creation of some more notable motion-controlled lightsaber video games that took advantage of that feature. One of them came in the form of a special activity mode in the official ''Star Wars'' fan app on [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] in which players use their smartphone's motion sensors to practice and master blaster deflection with a training droid (which appears on the phone's rear camera), similar to the deflection training exercises featured aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' in ''A New Hope'', while progressing through the ranks of the Jedi or Sith order. Another is in ''Star Wars: Jedi Challenges'', which works with a Lenovo Mirage AR headset, a tracking sensor and a dedicated lightsaber controller that launched in December 2017. One of the multiple game modes available in ''Challenges'', which was jointly developed by Disney and [[Lenovo]], enables players to confront ''Star Wars'' villains in lightsaber duels, such as Darth Maul and Kylo Ren.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/31/star-wars-jedi-challenges-augmented-reality-game-launches-with-lenovo-mirage-headset.html|title=Lenovo, Disney launch ''Star Wars'' Jedi aurgmented reality game that lets you use a real lightsaber|first=Arjun|last=Kharpal|date=August 31, 2017|publisher=[[CNBC]]|access-date=October 23, 2017|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071352/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/31/star-wars-jedi-challenges-augmented-reality-game-launches-with-lenovo-mirage-headset.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Speculative fiction|Film}}
* [[Flaming sword (mythology)]]
* [[List of Star Wars weapons|List of ''Star Wars'' weapons]]
* [[Physics and Star Wars|Physics and ''Star Wars'']]
* [[Photonic molecule]]
* ''[[Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel]]''

== References ==
'''Footnotes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lightsabers}}
*{{Star Wars Databank|subject=lightsaber|text = Lightsaber}}
* {{Wookieepedia|Lightsaber}}
* [http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber1.htm "Howstuffworks – Inside the Lightsaber"]
* [http://www.shortlist.com/news/scientists-could-create-real-lightsabers#art Scientists Could Create Real Lightsabers]

{{Star Wars universe|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:American inventions]]
[[Category:Star Wars weapons]]
[[Category:Fictional swords]]
[[Category:Jedi]]
[[Category:Sith]]
[[Category:Fictional martial arts]]
[[Category:Fictional energy weapons]]
[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1977]]