Summary
- Darth Vader’s lightsaber used two kinds of crystals for power – synthetic and Force-reactive.
- The red color of Vader’s lightsaber was achieved through a Sith ritual called “bleeding.”
- Darth Vader could adjust the length of his lightsaber blade for combat efficiency.
Darth Vader is one of the most endlessly fascinating characters in the Star Wars universe. Stories of his exploits, adventures, and misdeeds are as widely known in our galaxy as they are his. But where would Vader be without his trusty weapon by his side? Darth Vader’s lightsaber is a significant part of his character, and there’s no shortage of interesting trivia and background to pick up on when it comes to this iconic Sith weapon.
Darth Vader’s lightsaber was a weapon to contend with. Not only did its owner know how to wield it, but it was probably one of the most destructive weapons in the galaxy. At least until Luke built his own. For more information, here are a few more fascinating facts about Vader’s lightsaber.
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Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Used Two Types Of Crystals
Jedi lightsabers typically use kyber
Throughout its lifetime, Vader’s lightsaber utilized two types of power crystals. The first was called a synth-crystal, an artificial product usually not used in lightsabers due to its unpredictable nature. However, Sith engineers found a way to develop synth-crystals that effectively channeled Vader’s use of the Force. The second crystal in Darth Vader’s lightsaber came from the Adega system, and crystals of its type were more typically used for lightsabers. These naturally occurring minerals were Force-reactive, allowing a Jedi Knight or Sith Lord to create a bond between themselves, the Force, and the blade.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Was Constructed In 19 BBY
Shortly after Anakin’s rebirth as Vader
The creation of Darth Vader’s new lightsaber was among the more notable events of 19 BBY. It took time for Vader to create this new blade after he lost the first one, but he would put it to good use upon its completion. After killing most of the Jedi Knights during Order 66 and establishing the new reign of the Galactic Empire, Darth Vader used the remainder of the year to construct his new lightsaber, cementing himself as a Dark Lord of the Sith once and for all.
Vader Constructed His Lightsaber Himself After Losing His First
Just as the Jedi constructed lightsabers themselves
Anakin’s blue lightsaber is taken from him after his duel with Obi-Wan on Mustafar in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.. The next time viewers see him with a lightsaber, the weapon is of a different design and color. Vader didn’t just take this lightsaber from someone else but constructed it himself. In Marvel’s Darth Vader comic series, Vader builds his new red lightsaber with his hands, crafting the hilt himself, similar to the Jedi of the High Republic era.
The Hilt Design Of Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Came From A Jedi He Murdered
A part of Sith tradition
In the Darth Vader comic written by Charles Soule, Emperor Palpatine sends Vader to assassinate a Jedi who had managed to survive Order 66. The Jedi, Kirak Infil’a, puts up a fight against Vader but eventually falls, leaving his weapon for Vader to take. After an ensuing assassination attempt on Vader himself, Infil’a’s lightsaber was destroyed. Nevertheless, Vader retained knowledge of the hilt’s design and later built a modified version while traveling to his lair on Mustafar.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Was Crafted On Mustafar
In a cave that Vader would later build his castle on
Mustafar is a planet rife with connections to the Dark Side of the Force. Under its lava and mineral surface lies unfathomable evil energy, especially for Vader, who uses his connection to the planet and its connection to the Dark Side to fashion his blade. Mustafar would become a site for Vader’s continued study of the Dark Side, leading him to construct Fortress Vader. Building his castle near the very location where Obi-Wan had nearly killed him, Vader’s negative emotions were at their height on this lava-filled planet, making it the perfect location for him to construct his next iconic weapon.
The Red Color Of Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Is A Product Of A Sith Ritual Called “Bleeding”
Corrupting a crystal with the dark side
To make their blades red, Sith Lords must engage in a process known as “bleeding,” which involves psychically pouring negative emotions into their kyber crystals until the color changes into a deep crimson.
Crafting a red lightsaber requires more than finding a red crystal. To make their blades red, Sith Lords must engage in a process known as “bleeding,” which involves psychically pouring negative emotions into their kyber crystals until the color changes into a deep crimson. However, this process pulls the Sith to the light side of the Force to test their commitment to the dark, so Vader was almost redeemed before Luke. Ultimately, Vader rejected the light and embraced the dark, and with this last Sith ritual complete, his new weapon was ready for his reign as a Sith.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Was An Item Of Interest For Grand Moff Tarkin
Tarkin recognized how dangerous it was
Grand Moff Tarkin
An accomplished military officer during the Clone Wars, Tarkin caught Palpatine’s eye due to their similar philosophies. Tarkin swiftly ascended to a position of significance after the establishment of the Empire, and became governor of the entire Outer Rim, even taking over the entire Death Star project. He was the one responsible for the destruction of Alderaan, but himself died when the Death Star was destroyed.
In Marvel’s Darth Vader comic, readers learn that Tarkin recognized the danger of Vader’s lightsaber. He comments at one point that he notices Vader’s hands frequently hovering over it. Tarkin was one of the few Imperial officers who could keep Vader on a tight leash–and for good reason. The high-ranking official knew that, for all his misgivings about the Force, Vader was nothing more than the Emperor’s lapdog who would attack once off his leash. Tarkin kept a keen eye on the Sith throughout their interactions, knowing how dangerous he was.
Darth Vader Could Alter The Length Of His Lightsaber Blade
A dual-phase lightsaber
Darth Vader could alter the size of his lightsaber blade for maximum efficiency in battle. Belonging to a breed known as the “dual-phase” lightsaber, the dimensions of Vader’s blade could be changed as needed. While Vader is never seen taking advantage of this capability in the original trilogy, it is interesting that the Sith Lord was not using every tool in his possession while battling Luke. It may be that he was holding back throughout the original three Star Wars films.
Using His Lightsaber Was Uncommon For Darth Vader In Rogue One
A rare chance for a Sith Lord to prove himself against multiple opponents
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story features an unforgettable scene wherein Darth Vader slays a squadron of rebels in an unlit hallway. This scene is easily one of his darkest moments in the franchise, as he brutally kills each of his enemies without remorse. This was a surprising move for the Sith Lord, as Vader only uses his lightsaber to confront another lightsaber wielder or multiple blaster-wielding enemies.
Using his lightsaber to engage the ten to twenty rebel soldiers on that ship was perhaps unnecessary for the Dark Lord of the Sith. While Vader likely did not need his lightsaber to engage so small a force, his actions could signify the Sith’s rage at the Death Star plans being stolen by so meager an army.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Didn’t Actually Kill Obi-Wan
Obi-Wan disappeared first
Obi-Wan Kenobi, former master and best friend of Vader, appears to die by his one-time Padawan’s hand in the very first Star Wars film. However, according to the official canon of the Star Wars saga, Kenobi didn’t die as Vader swung at him but became one with the Force just as Vader’s lightsaber was about to kill him. Luke does the same thing in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, similarly leaving behind only a cloak.
Obi-Wan always felt responsible for Anakin’s fall, consistently refusing to kill his friend after defeating him in battle. However, after becoming Vader, Anakin fostered a deep and seething hatred for his former master. After being bested on Mustafar and in the finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vader’s victory was stolen from him once more by Kenobi’s convenient transcendence.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Was Destroyed Along With Palpatine
The lightsaber fell into the depths of Death Star II
After a duel with Luke Skywalker, Vader has his hand cut off, losing his lightsaber to the void of the Death Star II’s core. Vader destroys the evil Emperor Palpatine, tossing him into the same pit and becoming Anakin Skywalker once more. Vader dies a noble death, with his lightsaber and former master being destroyed in the Death Star’s explosion.
This lightsaber is a metaphor for Vader himself. Made from Jedi parts, bathed in hatred, and used as a tool for evil purposes, its journey closely resembles that of Anakin Skywalker. It is only fitting, then, that this lightsaber ends with the death of Darth Vader.
In Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig, a dark-side cult called the Acolytes of the Beyond purchase what they believe is Darth Vader’s lightsaber, seeking to destroy and return the weapon to its master in death.
Many Actors Have Wielded Darth Vader’s Lightsaber
Various actors and stunt performers
While fans are familiar with James Earl Jones’s booming voice as Darth Vader, bringing the character to life is a bit more complicated. In fact, throughout the franchise, several different actors have been inside the suit, wielding Vader’s signature lightsaber onscreen. David Prowse is best known as Vader’s body double in the original Star Wars trilogy. Still, an uncredited stunt actor, later revealed to be professional fencer Bob Anderson, performed the Sith’s lightsaber-heavy scenes.
When Vader returns in Rogue One, Daniel Naprous and Spencer Wilding captured his movements, including his iconic hallway fight at the end. Vader’s movements would be captured through the teamwork of Hayden Christensen, Dmitrious Bistrevsky, and Tom O’Connell in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ultimately, though there will only ever be one Darth Vader, it took many actors to bring the character to life in Star Wars.
