Lightsaber

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For Star Wars characters and their lightsaber colors see Lightsaber users.

For in-depth details on the fighting style of lightsabers, see Lightsaber combat.

Lightsaber is the name of a fictional weapon that plays a key role in the movies, games and novels that constitute the Star Wars universe. Lightsabers are science fiction versions of their namesake, the saber, but with the metal blade replaced by something resembling a solid bar or cylindrical beam of pure energy about a meter long which can differ in color (red, blue, green, and purple in the six films and other colors appear in the Expanded Universe). Though they often behave like regular swords, they have been depicted as able to penetrate and cut through most matter with little or no resistance, and to deflect shots from blasters, the guns used in the Star Wars franchise. There are several substances that can deflect a lightsaber including a metal called cortosis. The lightsaber first appeared in the film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977). At first, the effect was created by a handle with a motorized spinning reflector and pointing high-intensity light in their direction. The outcome was not satisfying, so in post-production the effect was augmented through rotoscoping. Animation director Nelson Shin, who would later gain fame as the director of The Transformers: The Movie and founder of the animation studio AKOM, is credited with designing the lightsaber blade (see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0793802/). For episodes V and VI the use of reflective tape was abandoned and the effect was achieved by rotoscoping rods made of aluminum and later carbon fiber rods. For the prequel trilogy, the effect was created using computer animation. Within the fiction of Star Wars, the lightsaber "blade" is made by a very tight loop of highly focused energy, possibly a loop of plasma contained in a strong magnetic or other field which compresses the circular loop so much that it looks like a cylindrical bar.

To carry a lightsaber is an example of incredible skill and confidence, dexterity and attunement to the Force. Although use of the lightsaber is not strictly reserved to the Jedi, the only others widely known of being capable of handling the difficult weapon are the Sith: Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku), Darth Sidious (Palpatine). Cases exist where non-Jedi and non-Sith can wield lightsabers through special skills that do not require force mastery, the most famous example of this being General Grievous. Han Solo also used Luke Skywalker's lightsaber on Hoth in episode V. When deactivated, a lightsaber appears as a polished metallic handle, about 30 centimeters long with an ignition button. The button may be located internally, thus requiring telekenesis via the Force to activate. At the press of a button, the device forms a shaft of pure energy about a meter long. The saber hums with a distinct sound. Its shimmering blade is capable of cutting through almost anything, except for the blade of another lightsaber, cortosis ore, Sith swords, the electrical staffs (which are crafted from phrik metal) of MagnaGuards, Mandalorian iron, and nearly any form of concentrated energy (a force field, for example.) The blades are also capable of absorbing some Force abilities, like Force lightning. A lightsaber can be used to cut through solid objects or enemies. Additionally, using the Force, a Jedi can predict and deflect incoming blaster bolts, or reflect them back at the firer. After the extermination of the Jedi ranks, lightsabers became rare relics and knowledge of their construction was hidden away by a few people seeking to preserve the Jedi lore, usually Jedi-in-hiding, or close friends of Jedi. Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi, built his own lightsaber as the culmination of his training and later used it to defeat Darth Vader on the second Death Star.

Contents 1 Colors 2 Types 2.1 Dual-phase 2.2 Short 2.3 Double-bladed 2.4 Electrum 2.5 Linksaber 2.6 Lightwhip 2.7 Y-saber 3 Defense against lightsabers 4 Hilt styles 5 Use and construction 5.1 Forms of lightsaber combat 5.2 History 5.3 Blade characteristics 5.4 Construction details 6 Other users 7 Lightsaber effects in the films 8 Theories on possible inspirations for the idea 9 Lightsaber-like devices in other contexts 10 Lightsabers in other media 11 References 12 See also 13 External links

[edit] Colors

In the original film trilogy, lightsaber blades were blue, green and red. The various Expanded Universe (EU) sources, action figures and the prequel films introduced a new color: purple, which is now canon to the series. According to the Expanded Universe, color is determined by the color of the crystal, as well as multiple gems being used for variations of blade intensity and length. In the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a lightsaber can have three crystals; one for color, and two crystals for other properties. However, in reality, the color is produced by the crystalline structure and can differ from one to the other, even if they have the same type of crystal.

Red is usually associated with the Sith. Blue, and green colors are usually associated with the Jedi. Silver and purple are sometimes associated with Gray Jedi, Jedi that stay in the middle and are neither darkside or lightside. Orange, pink, white, gold, yellow, and viridian typically do not represent either side, and have been seen used by both. However, the Expanded Universe establishes no direct relationship between a lightsaber's blade's color and its user's affiliation. For example, in the computer game Jedi Knight the Dark Jedi Sariss used a blue lightsaber while her erstwhile ally Yun used a yellow blade. Also, in the "Corellian Trilogy" Luke creates a lightsaber for Leia that is red, although in the "Heir to the Empire" trilogy by Timothy Zahn, Luke builds a lightsaber with a green blade for her, and Mace Windu, a Jedi leader from the films has a purple blade.

The color of a lightsaber blade depends on the crystals used to focus it and its filter. According to non-canon sources, blue-bladed lightsabers are most often associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are generally associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are usually associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are almost always associated with the Sith and Dark Jedi. The reason for this is said to be that the Sith cannot get the same crystals as the Jedi and must use synthesized ones that come out red. Note, however, that the color of the lightsaber does not necessarily indicate the nature of the Jedi. Mace Windu's purple-colored lightsaber in the movie was colored differently because Samuel L. Jackson asked for it to be so. In the expanded universe, purple, being a mix of red and blue, shows the mastery of a lightsaber form known as Vaapad or form VII and the light side of the Force which allows Windu to use his fighting style and Force powers dangerously close to the Dark Side without being tainted. Windu met with great controversy over his choice of crystal, as it was a color often associated with the Sith. It is theorized that Emperor Palpatine was deformed when he attacked Windu because his Force Lightning was magnified by the Dark Side energy in Windu's saber. Due to the great difficulty involved in attaining such a rare type of crystal, it is also said that a purple crystal is a choice only the most skilled masters in lightsaber combat can make, which might also explain his unusual blade color. Usually the lightsaber crystal will call out to its chosen master during the trials to become a Jedi when the Padawan travels to Ilum or Adega. This in part is why some sources claim that Jedi traditionally use Adegan crystals^{[citation needed]}. The Sith "synthetic" crystals were usually created by the will of the Sith, as by Darth Maul in the book Shadow Hunter. Prior to the Battle of Ruusan, Jedi used lightsabers in a vast array of colors. Afterwards, Jedi relied on more common Ilum crystals such as blue and green. During his Knight Trials, Mace Windu braved the rock-encrusted world of Hurikane on the orders of his Jedi Master to obtain his lightsaber crystal. He encountered the planet's natives and, in a moment of panic, accidentally threw them over a cliff. Realizing his mistake, the young Padawan saved the native, reconstructing the alien's rocky body by will of the Force. It was from this mission that Mace Windu was given the rare crystals as a gift. In the New Jedi Order era, Jedi had a wide array of colors such as orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and light blue.

The synthetic red crystals (Note: not all red crystals are synthetic, in Knights of the Old Republic, there is a crystal cave on Dantooine where red crystals are found by breaking alien eggs and "snuffing out innocent life inside") favored by the Sith can create a somewhat more powerful blade than blue or green crystals but are generally not as pure because of their artificial nature and can thus be undesirable as the focus of a lightsaber. The Sith apparently had a large supply of red crystals and also favored red as a symbol for passion. It was not uncommon for the Sith masters to supply their learners with the synthesized red crystals. However, Exar Kun used a blue double-bladed lightsaber in the Sith War; likewise, Darth Vader began his career with a blue-bladed saber, eventually taken from him by Obi-Wan Kenobi and passed to his son Luke. (Vader might have done this simply because the saber constructed during his Jedi tenure was the only one to hand but in the video game version of Revenge of the Sith, it is revealed that Palpatine gave him the red lightsaber after the battle with Obi-Wan. If Anakin had won the fight, Palpatine would have given Anakin the new lightsaber. Certainly the saber he uses in Episode IV is red.)

Sith lightsaber crystals tend to be red because of Sith alchemy. When making their own lightsaber crystals, the materials they use and the way they make them almost always turn out crimson. Though most Sith wield a red lightsaber, the color does not affect their decision to use the lightsaber. For example, if the blade turned yellow when first ignited, it would make no difference to the user.

It is said that Sith "bloodshine" lightsabers include a biogenic compound introduced in the manufacturing process, giving the weapon's bearer a slight boost in overall power while wielding the lightsaber. However, it is theorized that these special crystals can have their properties exhausted. Whether this renders the crystal "normal" (compared to more common natural focusing crystals), or simply useless, remains unknown at this time.

In Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Luke Skywalker constructed his lightsaber using instructions hidden in Obi-Wan Kenobi's abandoned hut on Tatooine. Instead of using natural crystals however, he synthetically created the focusing gems within a compact molecular furnace, also found inside Kenobi's home. While the intense heat of the kiln molded the base materials that Luke had placed inside, he channeled his Force energies through them, which in turn shaped and modified their internal properties. With this process, a completely functional lightsaber crystal can be created. Darth Maul was known to have created his double-bladed lightsaber in much the same way, but with one major difference. During the forming of the crystals within the furnace, the Sith focused all of his blinding rage, aggression, and malice into the gems. This leads to the belief that it may be possible to mold the alignment of the completed crystal itself through this process.

During the initial editing of Return of the Jedi, Luke's new lightsaber was blue, and appears so in an early trailer. However, it was difficult to see against the blue desert sky, and the decision was made to change it to green.

[edit] Types

[edit] Dual-phase

The dual-phase lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Historically, these complex blades were constructed mostly by ancient Jedi and Sith in their many heated wars; the surprise advantage of a blade which could shoot forth several feet or inches was worth the additional difficulty of constructing a lightsaber with several focusing gems and outweighed the fact that a lengthy blade was often inferior from a pure fencing perspective. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. In the books Dark Apprentice and I, Jedi, with the help of the spirit of Exar Kun, Gantoris created such a lightsaber. Similarly, in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock. Corran Horn, a Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order, also used one of these; however he tended to keep the shorter blade ignited and the weapon seemed to only have two settings—standard and extended with no fine control over the lengths of either. It is possible for dual-phase lightsabers to extend blade length to surprising measurements, possibly nine feet, resembling more of a lance. However, when using such a weapon in the cramped corridors of a starship, the potential of accidentally carving into the hull when deflected, causing explosive decompression, makes such a weapon impractical.

This type of lightsaber can be achieved by any lightsaber with two or more actively used crystals in the energy loop, or it can be a property granted by a special functioning of the power cell. Its most basic manifestation within the weapon is the ability to alter the length of the beam or cutting section^{[citation needed]}. Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber is dual-phase capable, for example. Corran Horn's is a special case, in that the crystal is mechanically swapped for another, which yielded a longer blade. It is entirely possible that external control dials alter the distance and/or alignment between the internal crystals, thereby changing the blade's properties.

[edit] Short

There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as short lightsabers or lightdaggers) that can be wielded as offhand (weaker hand) secondary weapons. These are for Jedi who fight with two lightsabers for the dual-bladed lightsaber combat style Jar'Kai, which is used by Ancient Jedi Master Kavar and fallen Jedi Sora Bulq or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like Yoda, Yaddle or (presumably) Even Piell. This technique was possibly inspired by the Japanese art of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu or European sword and dagger fencing. It was said by Master Maruk in the book Yoda: Dark Rendezvous that those who practice dual sword wield have a tendency to rely too deeply in their swords. Anakin Skywalker was also seen using this technique when he battled Count Dooku on Geonosis. Luke Skywalker built a shortened lightsaber which he called a shoto, for the specific purpose of defending against a lightwhip. His wife, Mara, also made one when they went hunting for Lumiya during the attempted coup at Hapes.

[edit] Double-bladed

The double-bladed lightsaber, saberstaff, sith lightsaber, battlestaff, staff saber or lightstaff, is a unique variant in which the handle is about twice the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for much versatility. This variant was invented by the Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun nearly four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Kun was able to carefully adjust its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters (1.5 to 5 ft), as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light. Asajj Ventress, a fallen Jedi, used two red lightsabers with curved hilts, each similar to Darth Tyranus'(Count Dooku) lightsaber. They were designed so that she could connect the two ends to form a double-bladed saber, with an "S" shaped hilt.

Although in later years the double-bladed lightsaber is associated with the Sith, this is not always the case and Jedi who wield this variant are not more susceptible to the dark side.

Despite the strength of the double-bladed lightsaber, the long size of the handle itself seems to be a weakness in battle against another lightsaber-wielding foe; it was cut in half when Darth Maul used it in the duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One was also cut in half in the Dark Horse comic book Star Wars: Resurrection, when the resurrected Lord Maul dueled Darth Vader for the apprenticeship of Darth Sidious. Also, the Double-bladed lightsaber was used by the Jedi Brutes, blue on both ends, green on both ends, or both, one color on each, in Episode 3: the video game.

Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include Zez-Kai Ell, Jorak Uln, Uthar Wynn, Darth Bandon, Bastila Shan, Kas'im, Darth Zannah, Darth Maul, Komari Vosa, Asajj Ventress, Jastus Farr, Azrakel, and Sachi Bopin.

[edit] Electrum

The electrum lightsaber is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from electrum. Mace Windu's lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example; Sidious's lightsaber is also similar. In the Jedi Order, only council members are allowed to have an electrum-covered lightsaber.^[1]

[edit] Linksaber

Linksabers apparently have a bond between them, which allows for use similar to nunchaku. This weapon exists in a low budget fan film and as Asajj Ventress' weapon in the patch for the Xbox version of Star Wars: Battlefront II.

[edit] Lightwhip

A lightwhip, was previously invented by the New Sith Githany and later used by Lumiya. It was a lightsaber crafted out of Kaiburr crystal and Mandalorian iron, but with the ability to flex and move like a leather whip. Unlike a regular lightsaber that creates a 'blade' from a highly focused arc of energy, the lightwhip works by sending a highly focused electrical current through metallic strands. This weapon is closer to the term "electrowhip", but is referred to "lightwhip" due to it creating a charge energy aura around the strands making it very similar to a lightsaber blade. One was built by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who designed it from a whip he had seen a bounty hunter use. It was used by the Nautolan Jedi Kit Fisto and Obi-wan during their mission on Ord Cestus. In the PC game Forces of Corruption by Lucasarts entertainment, the Nightsister Silri also carries a lightwhip.

[edit] Y-saber

Used by Jedi Master Roblio Darté, in the battle of Parcelus Minor. (In the Star Wars Clone Wars comic book, volume 5.) It looks like a normal light saber with an added 4 inch blade. The 4 inch blade comes off the side of the top of the hilt making a Y.

[edit] Defense against lightsabers

Cortosis ore was used to make shields and swords that could withstand the attack of a lightsaber. In the expanded universe, it is explained in the books and comics that when a lightsaber blade comes in contact with cortosis ore, the blade malfunctions and it must be reset to be used properly. In the games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, there are swords with cortosis ore woven into the blades to allow them to be used in combat with lightsabers. This is not contradictory to the previous explanation of cortosis ore, even though the lightsabers in the games never had to be reset after being used in a fight against a sword that had cortosis ore woven into it. Pure or nearly pure cortosis creates a feedback loop that deactivates a lightsaber blade, however, as a small part of an alloy it merely resists being cut. Cortosis is usually only used in alloy form since pure cortosis is extremely brittle and easily broken by conventional weapons. In Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn fights a new type of stormtrooper, called the shadowtroopers, who have cortosis ore woven throughout their armor. Cortosis armor also appears in the Star Wars canon, but is usually a rarity.

In the Expanded Universe material it was established that the first Sith Lords used alchemically altered Sith swords, since lightsaber technology had not been developed before the original dark Jedi were exiled. Sith swords are able to block a lightsaber blade. Many of these ancient blades are capable of the unique quality of sharpening, or refining their own internal properties (IE tensile strength, weight reduction and even added effects like poisoning or emanating the dark side of the Force into the surrounding area). Also many of these blades were connected through the Force to their wielders, gaining said properties with the further strengthening of its wielders' own power in the Force.

In the EU novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover, beings on Haruun Kal used an unknown superconducting metal to make vibrating shields called "vibroshields". This metal cannot be cut by lightsabers but will melt if held in contact with them long enough. Mace Windu speculates that the metal was starship armor from an old crashed ship, built back when the metal was sufficient to resist low-rate turbolasers of that time.

Phrik alloy can withstand lightsabers to some degree and was used to create the weapons used by General Grevious's Magnaguards in Revenge of the Sith, as well as by the Dark Troopers featured in Dark Forces.

The Yuuzhan Vong in the New Jedi Order books use biological technology, some of which can resist a lightsaber.

In the Jedi Apprentice novel "The Captive Temple," as well as Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology it is stated that lightsabers coming into contact with water in any amount greater than rain will deactivate them until they are reset. The novelization of The Phantom Menace also supports this, but in the television show Star Wars: Clone Wars lightsabers are seen underwater with no adverse effects. Also, in the Young Jedi Knight book Crisis At Crystal Reef, the Mon Calamari Jedi Cilghal tells the other Jedi that their lightsabers should work underwater "if they were constructed correctly", seemingly contradicting other sources in the EU. In the novel adaption of Episode 1 Qui Gon Jinn chides his Padawan Obi-Wan for forgetting to turn off his sabre before going under water, apparently to prevent it from shorting out.

In the Dark Horse Comics adaptation of "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," it is revealed that Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber is apparently waterproof, as it is seen used underwater by Skywalkers twin children, Luke and Leia.

It was suggested that Kit Fisto and other water born species specially modify their lightsabers to permit use underwater.

[edit] Hilt styles

As well as there being a variety of lightsaber blade colors, there are also many different styles for the hilt. Jedi must fashion their own sabers, so there is no uniform look to the hilt. Jedi students building lightsabers are usually told that their lightsaber should reflect them, or what is important to them. Many apprentices will model their lightsabers in a style similar to their master's as a sign of respect. Training sabers are usually of one or two different hilt styles, as evidenced in Attack of the Clones. Some Jedi, when replacing their old lightsaber hilt due to loss, damage, or destruction (E.G. Obi-Wan lost his first lightsaber in his duel with Darth Maul; Anakin's first lightsaber was destroyed by accident while attempting to free himself from the Droid Foundry on Geonosis), will create an identical one (like Obi-Wan's second saber in Ep. II.). Others have many more unique and interesting styles of lightsaber, such as Count Dooku's lightsaber hilt. Many Jedi will make their own hilt out of various machined or found parts, such as the case of Corran Horn building a lightsaber out of a wrecked speeder bike throttle assembly in I, Jedi. Or in the Young Jedi Knights, Tenel Ka, a female padawan friend of the Solo children built hers out of a Rancor tooth. At the time of the Old Republic Era, a Wookie Jedi named Tyvokka was known to carry a uniquely crafted lightsaber with a wooden outer casing. Finally, some makers are known to re-use designs or layout plans: the saber used by Anakin Skywalker throughout most of Episode II is almost identical to the one used by Darth Vader in the later trilogy.

[edit] Use and construction

[edit] Forms of lightsaber combat

See also: The seven forms of lightsaber combat

Lightsaber forms are characteristic styles of lightsaber use in battle. Unlike real-world martial arts forms, which are primarily training routines, lightsaber forms are more akin to different theories and methods of fencing. There are seven named forms described so far:

• Form I Shii-Cho - The basic and most simplistic form, first form taught to younglings. Known users are Stass Allie and Kit Fisto.
• Form II Makashi - Most advantageous in lightsaber against lightsaber dueling. Elegant, effective and deadly. Few Jedi use it because of the relative rarity of this type of combat. Known users are: Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus, Ki Adi Mundi and Shaak Ti.
• Form III Soresu - Form which strongly emphasizes on defense and blaster fire deflection. Used by Jedi beset by multiple blaster-wielding opponents to defend themselves from incoming fire. Known users are: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episodes II, III, and IV), Barriss Offee, and Luminara Unduli.
• Form IV Ataru - Acrobatic form, emphasizing agility. This technique mainly involves the Force to perform some of the maneuvers. Relatively aggressive and tends to open defense. Known users are:Darth Maul, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Aayla Secura and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode I).
• Form V Shien / Djem So- Takes some of the defensive powers from Form III and channels them to offensive powers. Form V users can use the lightsaber to deflect blaster bolts back at attackers. Known users are: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Mace Windu, Kyle Katarn, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar, Darth Bane, and possibly Cin Drallig.
• Form VI Niman - Diplomatic form, used by many Jedi in the period when Chancellor Palpatine was in power. Very well rounded, but does not excel anywhere. Note that all Jedi who practiced Niman in the Battle of Geonosis were killed. Often used as a basis for dual lightsaber styles. Known user is Coleman Trebor.
• Form VII Juyo - Dubbed the Way of the Vornskr or The Ferocity Form, Juyo, a term from High Galactic, was originally considered an incomplete form for millennia. Generally viewed as undeveloped and rarely used by the Jedi and the Sith, Juyo was not seen as one of the main forms for generations of Jedi. Jedi Master Mace Windu completed Form VII when he developed the form of lightsaber combat known as Vaapad, named after a creature from Sarapin which moved with incredible speed. It was considered the most powerful form, but because of the intensity involved, it was thought dangerous because it bordered on the Dark Side of the Force. There were only four Vaapad masters in the galaxy: Mace Windu, Sora Bulq, Revan, and Depa Billaba. All but Windu wound up falling to the Dark Side. Practitioners of standard Juyo included General Grievous, and Kavar.

The seven forms are introduced by Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary and Star Wars Insider #62. The names of these forms are from the computer/video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, and was further developed through Expanded Universe comic books and novels.

According to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, there are 11 forms but a Jedi/Sith can only learn 7 of them. This is likely referring to the "Force forms" that you can learn in the game as well.

[edit] History

Lightsabers are the principal weapons of the Jedi, but are also used by the Sith. Their use is usually restricted to the Jedi, for several reasons: for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective; it is rare when lightsabers are constructed by someone who is not Force-sensitive. However, lightsabers remain prized by some collectors, and some black market sales do occur.

The Jedi who fought in the First Great Schism of 24,500 BBY wielded non-vibrating swords that predated vibroweapons and the resultant dark Jedi who were exiled from the known galaxy had only these weapons when they found their way to Korriban. In the time around 5000 BBY at the conclusion of Marka Ragnos' reign, with the coming of the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith became exposed to lightsaber technology and adopted it for their own use. Concurrent with the Jedi creating the lightsaber was the Sith creating the Sith sword, which proved effective against lightsabers because of the way its alchemically altered metal refracts a lightsaber’s energy. In the subsequent time leading to and from Exar Kun's Sith War, the dark Jedi who proclaimed themselves Sith, followers of the dark side, came to preferring the lightsaber as their mainstay weapon over the archaic Sith sword.

(From the Dark Side Sourcebook, Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology, Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire, and Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith.)

Lightsaber technology was developed over thousands of years. The first lightsaber models, used thousands of years BBY, had to be connected to an external power source since a power source small enough to fit in a saber's hilt had not yet been discovered. Power sources often consisted of a power pack worn on the back and connected to the lightsaber's hilt by a power cord. The technology was vastly improved as smaller lighter power sources were discovered and implemented.

Typically, Jedi are given (training) lightsabers on the first day of training. Jedi Masters emphasize that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice because lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. To construct his own lightsaber is considered the final test for a Jedi padawan before his Jedi Trials. The construction traditionally takes place in a cave on Ilum, though other circumstances may prevent this, and lightsabers can be crafted anywhere as long as the proper tools and components are present. Some Jedi claim to fall into a meditative trance, where their vision helps determine what the results of their construction are. Others simply follow a more ceremonial approach that fully emphasizes the individual's completeness. Corran Horn described several changes within himself as he crafted his lightsaber, coming to terms with his past, his present, and his future.

Luminara Unduli

The crystal is the heart of the blade.

The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.

The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.

The Force is the blade of the heart.

All are intertwined:

The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.

You are one.

When younglings begin their training at the Jedi Temple, they are issued lightsabers set on a low power setting so as to prevent unnecessary injury or fatality due to awkwardness when first learning how to wield the dangerous weapon. These weapons are not capable of cutting through matter, but will deliver a burn or "stun" sensation nasty enough to make for an effective deterrent. After an initiate has been accepted to train under a master, he or she must construct his or her first lightsaber. Padawans usually base their lightsaber designs on their masters' lightsabers; Obi-Wan Kenobi constructed his lightsaber from The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones with similarities to that of Qui-Gon Jinn and his friend Quinlan Vos. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back is the lightsaber his father used in Revenge of the Sith. It was taken away from Anakin Skywalker, after his near fatal battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and given to Luke, while Luke's lightsaber from Return of the Jedi closely resembles that of Obi-Wan Kenobi's final lightsaber.

[edit] Blade characteristics

The standard blade for a human or human-sized wielder appears to be one meter (3.28 ft) long or slightly longer, with a diameter of approximately 20-25 millimeters (0.75-1 in). However, these numbers may vary depending on the wielder's own size and preferences. The blade itself holds no weight at all, requiring keen senses to keep in mind its positioning to avoid personal injury.

The blade is rounded, sometimes with a pointed tip, and capable of instantly burning human flesh into a carbonized mass and melting high density alloys within seconds. However, when piercing tip-first through denser materials, a greater degree of physical effort is required to guide the blade, as seen in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon Jinn forces his blade through the blast door of the Trade Federation vessel. Due to Lucas' need to make Star Wars a more family oriented film, lightsaber strikes instantly cauterize wounds, thus eliminating bleeding after a lightsaber wound; however in some cases in the Expanded Universe, a limited amount of blood flow does occur. In the original trilogy blood can also be seen in A New Hope when Obi-Wan cuts off Ponda Baba's arm, and in Empire Strikes Back when Luke cuts off a wampa's arm thus displaying the original intent Lucas had concerning damage induced by a lightsaber. In Phantom Menace when Obi-Wan severs Darth Maul, a flash of red appears during the cut, this is meant to be a mild display of blood. The blade does not radiate any heat and only loses energy when it cuts through something. The idea behind blood and lightsabers is that a strike to smaller areas of the body, or prolonged exposure to a part will cauterize a wound, however quickly cutting off a limb or large extremity will allow the presence of blood. Lightsabers work in the rain but let off steam when doing so, as seen by Obi-Wan Kenobi's use of his lightsaber in the rain on Kamino in Attack of the Clones and in Anakin's battle with Asajj Ventress on Yavin.

A lightsaber is a difficult weapon to master, mainly because there is very little weight or substance to the blade, making it almost seem unbalanced. Attempting to use it as one would use a sword will result in uncontrollable swings that are just as likely to damage the wielder as the opponent. Using one effectively requires precise measurement of force with no overswing. Soara Antana, a Jedi Master swordsmanship instructor during the Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series, tells students that they must use a lightsaber "like a feather, not a stick."

In the Expanded Universe, the cutting area of a lightsaber is portrayed as being only a few micrometres wide, with all of the rest being coronal discharge, as is illustrated in "Dark Force Rising".

[edit] Construction details

The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube that emits an energy beam that acts as a sword blade. All lightsabers contain some common basic components:

• A handgrip
• An activation stud plate, button, switch, or internal Force-activated mechanism
• A safety or dead man's switch (Though, it should be noted that not all Lightsabers have them)
• An emitter matrix
• A primary focusing crystal (which gives the blade its hue, Adegan/Ilum crystals are most commonly used)
• Up to two secondary crystals which produce different effects
• A lens assembly (focusing crystals)
• A blade-length adjuster (only on dual-phase lightsabers with at least two crystals)
• A miniature power cell (for the most part, unlimited in power; requires little recharging)
• An energy gate
• A power conduit
• A recharge socket (recharges the power cell when the lightsaber is off)
• Cycling field energizers
• A belt clip (These are optional, and may not even be needed, depending on the user's style, or clothing)

The exact operations of lightsaber mechanics remain unknown, largely due to inadequate canonical explanations. An activation control, such as a switch or button, releases a powerful flow of energy, focused through one or more crystals or lenses, forming a tight loop, sometimes referred to as an "arc-wave." These crystals were usually harvested from specially kept caverns on the icy world of Ilum. Before 1,000 BBY, the Jedi also used crystals from the planet Ruusan. This appears to be a matter of tradition rather than necessity since there are many examples of crystals from elsewhere in the galaxy being used effectively in lightsabers, particularly with the revival of Jedi Order after the downfall of the Empire. Since the Jedi control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. These were inbued with the Dark Side of the Force during the maufacturing process, making them more unstable than their natural counterparts, but giving them a slightly more powerful blade. Though it rarely happened, a Sith lightsaber was capable of overloading a regular lightsaber in combat, making it short out (as almost happened to Obi-wan Kenobi when fighting Darth Vader on the first Death Star). Some of the early Sith had other blade colors, but as fallen Jedi they may have re-used the crystals of their old lightsabers. Shadows of the Empire has Luke Skywalker using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction. Violet blades can be created from corusca gems from the gaseous planet of Yavin (Failed student Gantoris used a corusca gem for his lightsaber, as well as a clear gem and a gem with a blue electric fire in the center) or any violet-hued crystal capable of withstanding the strains of having so much power flow through them. This is true of other hues, as well. Natural crystals are usually preferred to synthetic, since there have been instances of synthetic crystals failing at unfortunate times, as happened to Corran Horn in I, Jedi. Finding a proper gem or crystal may be difficult, as Corran explained that it has to be right clarity, density, size, and cut if it's to be a functional focus for the blade. As seen in the Young Jedi Knights book "Lightsabers," Jedi student Tenel Ka uses naturally occurring black volcanic crystals in the construction of her first lightsaber. However, due to imperfections in the crystal(s), the weapon eventually malfunctioned, costing the student her arm in the process. She later built a replacement weapon, using the immaculate pearlescent gem from a royal tiara given to her by her grandmother. Jedi would often spend weeks or even months putting theirs together, to ensure it met their exact preferences of length, style, blade frequency, and so forth, but during the Clone Wars it was reported that one could be built in just two days.

When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create photoelectric energy and the blade is focused from the crystal, though a metallic channel that instantly creates a polar arc of proton-saturated ions. A tight beam of anti-protonic ions appears on command, which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals and super heats any gas or liquid into recognizable plasma emissions. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively charged shaft of coherent packets of anti-proton energy arching back about a meter (3 ft) long. The anti-protonic ions are attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively charged, high-energy flux aperture. (However, it would fit better with the laws of physics that the flux aperture is positively charged, because anti-protons are negatively charged and therefore would be repelled, not attracted, by another negatively charged object.) The anti-proton packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell superconductor. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative. Lightsabers lose little power when they come in contact with other objects, and thus can last almost indefinitely.

The typical design of the hilt is generally a straight tube. Count Dooku however, preferred a curved hilt, better suited for his Makashi dueling style (similar to fencing).

According to the novel I, Jedi, there were myths at one point that the lightsaber was powered by the Jedi's connection to the Force. However, records preserved by Corran Horn's grandfather Rostek Horn indicate that the Force is only used at the end of construction. Once all the pieces are assembled, the Jedi uses the Force to meld them on a molecular or lower level, permitting extreme energy efficiency. This efficiency is what allows the blades to remain lit and active for long periods of time.

The game Knights of the Old Republic indicates that Lightsabers are typically only made by Jedi (or other force sensitive creatures) because the exact alignment of the crystals used in a lightsaber require someone who is force sensitive to align correctly. If crystals are mis-aligned, newly constructed lightsabers have been known to explode on first activation.

Sometimes certain events necessitate a change in a Jedi's preferred weapon. A Jedi would modify the lightsaber or construct a new one to suit the demands of the situation at hand. As seen in Knights of the Old Republic, the sabers can be improved with the installation of certain crystals, lens, emitters and power cells and sometimes a Krayt Dragon Pearl

In the New Jedi Order series, Anakin Solo rebuilds his lightsaber using a Yuuzhan Vong crystalline lifeform known as a lambent that he personally attuned, meaning, he tuned it to respond to conscious will. With the lambent emplaced as the primary focusing medium of the lightsaber, Anakin was finally able to marginally detect the presence of the otherwise Force-dead Vong. Though not as effective as true Force-sense, this "Vongsense" was still sufficient to do combat with the Vong who, until then, were able to fight Jedi on an uneven playing field since they were "absent" from the Force.

[edit] Other users

Although the lightsaber was used primarily by the Jedi and Sith Force users, several non-Force users were known to have used a lightsaber:

• In the Star Wars: Droids animated series, Thall Joben once used a green lightsaber, as he explained to his droid C-3PO that he once did some work for someone who owned a speeder but they left the speeder with him and never reclaimed it; the lightsaber was one of the things left in the speeder by the person. It is unknown if this customer of Thall's was actually a Jedi or was simply someone who discovered a deceased Jedi or a Sith and took the lightsaber from them.

• In Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Leia Organa used Luke Skywalker's lightsaber in a nearly fatal attempt to hold off Darth Vader. This was before she had any training in use of the Force or lightsabers, and it showed. Only the sacrifice of the Yuzzim Hin and Vader's own overconfidence prevented her untimely demise.

• In The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo used Luke Skywalker's (formerly Anakin Skywalker's) lightsaber after he rescued Luke from a snowstorm on Hoth, making him the only untrained user of the device in any of the original three movies. Solo used the lightsaber to slice open the body of a dead Tauntaun, whose insides he then used to keep Luke warm while he constructed a proper shelter for both of them.

• Mara Jade's lightsaber was also used by Han to chop down Killiks shortly before the Swarm War. When he briefly lost it, Tarfang, an Ewok smuggler, viciously wielded the lightsaber to dice up Killiks to great effect.

• Han Solo used Leia Organa Solo's Lightsaber in Heir to the Empire to cut into a YT-1300 light freighter that was posing as the Millennium Falcon on Bpfassh.

• Anja Gallandro, daughter of the deceased bounty hunter Gallandro, wielded an acid-yellow lightsaber of particularly ancient make in service to the Black Sun figure known as Czethros.

• Darca Nyl, an ex-mercenary, used the green lightsaber of a dead Jedi during his pursuit of Lycan. Though he rarely used it in battle, it often gave him the advantage of being able to pass for a true Jedi. It was destroyed along with Lycan in a trap laid by Darca in a Force-sensitive cave on Molavar.

• Suvam Tan the eccentric Rodian inventor was such a mechanical genius that he managed to construct his own lightsaber from scratch despite not having any Force sensitivity. It is unknown whether Suvam was actually able to use his lightsaber.

• General Grievous is probably the most famous non-Force-sensitive user of lightsabers. He used lightsabers during the Clone Wars, all of which were taken from Jedi he had either killed or defeated in battle, except for Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas' lightsaber, which was a gift from Count Dooku.

• Boba Fett has been shown wielding a lightsaber in the Expanded Universe.

• Jaden Korr either found or constructed a lightsaber before he had any training in the use of the Force, although it was never stated how.

• In the Tapani Sector of the Galaxy, a subculture of saber rakes developed who fought duels with a lightsaber-like weapon called a lightfoil.

[edit] Lightsaber effects in the films

The original film prop hilts were constructed from old camera-flash battery packs. The 'switched-on' sword props were designed with the intention of creating an 'in-camera' glowing effect. The 'blade' was three-sided and coated with a retroreflector array—the same sort used for highway signs. 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. A motor in the hilt caused the blade to spin so that a reflective surface was always presented directly to the camera. This also created the familiar 'flickering' effect. Ultimately, this process yielded unsatisfactory results and animation was employed to enhance the brightness of the sabers. At this point, the artistic decision was made to assign different colors to the blades.

For The Empire Strikes Back, the lightsaber-blade props were simple white rods, and the glow effect was achieved entirely through a special kind of animation called rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn over live footage to maintain precision. In Empire of Dreams on the 2004 DVD release, Mark Hamill originally thought that the sabers would simply be post-production "cartoon" blades, but a real rod was necessary to have something to hit against in knowing where to stop a swinging sword.

For Return of the Jedi and the later movies, the hilts were machined from aluminum. In place of the glowing blade, carbon rods were used as blade reference during fight scenes. In the first two prequel films, they upgraded to resin "stunt" handles and aluminum tubes. Early on, the intense activity of recording these scenes revealed powdery flakes of debris against the green/bluescreen backdrops, a dust produced when the stunt blades slammed together. This was corrected by simply wrapping the stunt blades in color-coded construction paper. For the final film of the Star Wars saga, Revenge of the Sith, the aluminum was replaced by a carbon-fiber blend specifically manufactured for the production. These props had to be reinforced because during the early stages of these props' use, they would often snap from the impact when the actors used them to film combat sequences. The filming of one lightsaber sequence, such as the final Obi-wan/Anakin duel on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, could take several months because each actor had to memorize a complex sequence of 1000+ moves and execute them perfectly. Also in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin and Obi-wan are walking up the stairs to confront Dooku, you can see the shadow of one of their lightsabers on the floor. The same thing is seen in Return of the Jedi, after Luke lunges at Vader, and if you look at the floor, the prop blade's shadows can be seen.

In the prequel movies, the blades were created digitally. Many have commented that the lightsabers in the DVD release of the original trilogy look worse than they did previously, and blamed this drop in quality on the advanced remastering algorithm used to prepare the films for a digital release. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber on board the Millennium Falcon in A New Hope was for most of the scene not colored at all and remained white; however, in a true special effects gaffe, in a short shot where it was colored, it was greenish rather than the blue color it had earlier in the movie (and in the next film).

It is interesting to note that there is poor lighting throughout the Star Wars saga in regard to the light the sabers themselves cast. Light is typically cast across the face of a digital character, such as Yoda in Episodes II and III. When a saber passes by a human figure, there is very little glow cast across the figure or face. An exception is that during the Dooku/Skywalker fight in Attack of the Clones, the actors shot close-ups while holding, essentially, neon tubes colored appropriately for their blades. This was not done to contradict anything previously stated but purely dramatic effect.

Creators of fan films have used various techniques for creating the coveted "lightsaber effect," most of which involve programs such as EffectsLab (formerly AlamDV), Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, MainVision, The GIMP, LSMaker, crimsonfx (for Mac), or Blender.

The characteristic sound is added later by the sound effects team, but Ewan McGregor mouthed his own lightsaber noises before being asked to "leave it to the professionals" when filming The Phantom Menace. Liam Neeson and Hayden Christensen did the same. The characteristic lightsaber sound is a combination of a film projector's idling motor and interference caused by a television on an unshielded audio cable.

When the prequel trilogy began filming, George Lucas said that all Jedi would have blue, green, or similarly-colored lightsaber blades, not only to differentiate themselves from the Sith, but also to give them their own visual identity. Whenever there were flashes of blaster fire or explosions around, the color of a Jedi's lightsaber would shine through.

Arguably one of the most lusted-after props in film history, various toy replicas have been released, ranging from essentially a flashlight with a plastic tube attached, to accurate copies of the original film props, complete with motion-sensitive sound effects and colored blade. Toy lightsabers are consistently the best-selling of all Star Wars related merchandise. However, it appears the beam of pure energy boasted by the original lightsabers will remain fiction for some time to come.

[edit] Theories on possible inspirations for the idea

This article or section may contain original research or unattributed claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.

The strongest inspiration for the lightsaber may be the "force-blade" from the Lucky Starr series of science fiction novels for young adults, originally published 1952-1958 by Isaac Asimov under the pen name "Paul French." The force-blade is described as: "The most vicious weapon in the Galaxy. Outwardly, it was merely a short shaft of stainless steel that was a little thicker than the haft of a knife but which could still be held nicely in the palm. Within it was a tiny motor that could generate an invisible nine-inch-long, razor-thin force-field that could cut through anything composed of ordinary matter. Armor was of no use against it, and since it could slice through bone as easily as through flesh, its stab was almost invariably fatal."

In the documentary "Empire of Dreams", George Lucas stated that the origin of the lightsaber stemmed from his desire to place swordfights similar to those in The Adventures of Robin Hood in the Star Wars films. The laser property was inspired simply by the need to make it futuristic (metal swords would feel out of place in futuristic setting that relied on lasers for its firearms).

Inspiration for a “power sword” may have come from an episode of Lost in Space, called The Challenge, where The Ruler (played by Michael Ansara) proves his bravery, as much to his son Quano as to the humans. (Quano was played by a very young Kurt Russell.) He challenges Professor Robinson to a duel with what appears to be electrified epee, powered by a cumbersome battery pack attached to the belt. The sound made by the parrying blades was very reminiscent of the movies.More info

Additional stories which may have inspired the lightsaber include: Kaldar, Planet of Antares (1933) by Edmond Hamilton, Gather, Darkness! (1943) by Fritz Leiber, Nightwings (1968), by Robert Silverberg, an episode of Far Out Space Nuts (1975-1976), and The Lord of the Rings (1954, 1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien. Asimov's force-blade expands on his earlier invention of "a penknife with a force-field blade," first used in his Foundation novel (1951).

[edit] Lightsaber-like devices in other contexts

For a list of lightsaber like weapons, see List of energy blades.

The word lightsaber has become a type of Genericized trademark for any energy-bladed sword or similar weapons, even if they are not identified as such in other universes. Originally, Lucas intended the weapons to be referred to as "laser swords." The reason behind renaming the fabled weapons remains unknown at the current time. An allusion to this was made in Episode I when Anakin remarks to Qui-Gon Jinn, "I saw your laser sword. Only a Jedi carries that kind of weapon."

As well, a laser-eye surgery device tried using the name, but was countered by a lawsuit from Lucas.

[edit] Lightsabers in other media

• In the MMORPG Maple Story, a player can purchase a "Blazing Sword"(which masks over wielded swords) from the "Cash Shop" which looks exactly like a lightsaber.
• In the video game Silent Hill 3, the player can find a "sabre of light" which acts just like a lightsaber. (Note: this weapon can only be found after beating the game twice with certain statistics)
• In the Mobile Suit Gundam Universe, many of the Gundams use lightsaber like weapons called "beamsabers".
• In Crash Twinsanity, some Ants wield lightsaber-esque swords.
• The beam sword in Super Smash Bros. Melee shares similarities to a lightsaber
• Nelson Shin - credited with creating the lightsaber blade for "A New Hope," later revisited the concept in the animated film "Transformers: The Movie." In the battle between heroic warrior Optimus Prime and the evil Megatron, the decepticon leader is seen using a lightsaber type device against Prime.
• In the film UHF, Stanley Spadowski uses his mop in such a way that that he is acting out a light saber. The same sounds that light sabers make are used as well.
• According to Eddie Dean, in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla one of the weapons of the “Wolves” appear to be lightsabers from Star Wars. Incidentally, their other weapons are sneetches from the Harry Potter books.
• In Star Ocean: Till the End of Time a weapon can be purchased from Geminty called a "laser weapon." When examined this weapon closely resembles a lightsaber.
• In the PS2 game Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, the most powerful sword you can get is a laser sword which looks and sounds like a Lightsaber.
• Also in the PS2 game Ratchet & Clank 3, the player can use a cheat to turn the ommniwrench into a dual-Bladed Purple Lightsaber.
• In the video game Deus Ex, the "Dragon Tooth" sword, with a blue-glowing, retractable blade composed of nanites, somewhat resembles a lightsaber.
• The title character in the early 80s cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian wielded a lightsaber-like weapon called a "Sun-sword".
• In the computer game Diablo II there is a sword called a "lightsabre," note the difference in spelling.
• In the game, Megaman X, Sigma uses a blade that ignites like a Lightsaber and also deflects projectiles in the same manner as a Lightsaber.
• In Spy Kids, Carmen is looking for weapons' to save her parents, in a cabinet, she takes out a mini red lightsaber, moving it around, and creating the sounds of a lightsaber.
• In Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trillian picks up a knife, with a lightsaber, burning effect to toast a piece of bread while slicing. In the movie version it even uses the same sound effects.
• In the Superman storyline "Hunter/Prey", a mother box gives Superman a host of new weapons to use against Doomsday, one of which is described as an "energy sword", which both looks like a lightsaber and shares many of a lightsaber's properties.
• A Lightsaber like blade was also used in the hit Manga Series, "Naruto." It was a stolen item and used against Naruto in a bridge fight. It also uses the same sound effects as a lightsaber.
• In the game Mu Online. The Dark Knight, Magic Gladitor and Dark Lord can wield two weapons similar to Lightsabres. One is a two handed sword and the other is a dual-saber.
• In an episode of Zoey 101, a boy named Firewire attempts to use a lightsaber to get rid of girls.
• In the Megaman X and Megaman Zero games, Zero used a weapon called a Z-Saber, which had many properties similar to that of a lightsaber.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Lightsaber combat

[edit] External links

• Lightsaber entry in the Star Wars Databank
• Lightsaber on Wookieepedia: The Star Wars Wiki
• Bob Brown's How They Work Speculation of lightsaber operation.
• Lightsaber: Darth Vader on the MPP Microflash
• Lucas' Light Saber Battle, (26 July 2001, E! Online) George Lucas suing Minrad Inc. over copyright of Light Saber name on their laser medical equipment
• "Origins of the lightsaber." - (Theories on the origin of this sword.)
• "Science behind creating real light sabers."
• "Lightsaber Simulator"