The Sith Lords have an ancient process that explains why all their lightsabers are red in the Star Wars Galaxy. While Jedi Knights have several different lightsaber colors with blue and green being the predominant crystals most often seen, the Sith’s crystals are all red. There is a very dark reason for this, one that has been developed across multiple mediums beyond the canon movies and shows.
Beginning with Charles Sole’s Darth Vader comics series in 2017, the origins of Red Kyber crystals were revealed with the confirmation that they are not found naturally in the galaxy compared to those used by the Jedi Order. instead, A red cyber crystal must be forged with an incredibly dark tradition. This is how the Sith Lords turn their lightsaber crystals red in the Star Wars continuity.
A Sith “peels” a Kyber crystal red using their own emotions
It is a difficult and dangerous process
Rather than being found naturally on worlds such as Illum or Christophsis, red kybers must be made by the Sith. After procuring natural amber (no matter the color), a Sith Lord corrupts the crystal using the dark side of the Force in a process known as “bleeding”. Kyber is kept alive due to his intrinsic connection to the Force, and a Sith Lord pours all their hatred and pain into the crystal. This makes it literally bleed, creating the evil crimson color as the cyber is effectively tortured to become a weapon of the dark side.
As seen in Charles Soule’s The rise of Kylo RenA corrupted Ben Solo holds his blue Jedi crystal in his fist, tightening it until it bleeds and turns red. in soul Star Wars #35Luke learned about bleeding while searching for a new crystal on Christophsis: “A dark side practitioner pours their rage and pain and fear through the crystal, leaving it vibrating in scarlet agony…like a feedback loop”. As such, it is confirmed that Blood Kiber experiences constant pain due to the corruption of their Wilderness.
Sith obtain their Cyber ​​Crystals in the darkest way possible
Behind this is a dangerous ritual
Sole’s 2017 Darth Vader Series confirms the evil rite of passage behind a Sith’s acquisition of a crystal. Soon after Anakin Skywalker became Vader Revenge of the SithEmperor Palpatine tasked his apprentice with killing a surviving Jedi. Darth Vader would then claim the Jedi’s crystal as his own before bleeding it for his first crimson-bladed lightsaber. After hunting down and slaying Jedi Lord Kirak Infil’a, Vader did just as his master commanded and claimed his Green Saber for himself, following the ancient traditions of the countless Sith who came before him.
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During the corruption of his crystal, Darth Vader received a Force vision that showed him an alternative path where he could attempt to redeem himself (which he of course rejected). Regardless, it’s pretty obvious that the rite of passage of bleeding a slain Jedi crystal is crucial to testing a Sith’s commitment to the dark side of the Force. In Darth Vader’s case in particular, he was clearly put through just as much torture as the crystal he tainted, supporting the claim that Sith Lords and their corrupted crystals coexist in dark feedback loops of pain.
The acolyte showed a Sith bleeding kyber for the first time
We finally got to see a Kiber get bloodied in action
The acolyte‘s ending gave viewers their first ever glimpse of a lightsaber’s bleeding. The scene was a striking one, with Osha – a former Jedi Padawan – burning with anger and rage against her former master, Sol. She took his own lightsaber to him, and his blade gradually turned from the traditional blue to a blood red. In performing this act, Osha proves herself worthy of the attentions of the Sith Lord, who calls himself The Stranger, who was looking for a potential apprentice.
The bleeding clearly required Physical contact between the Force-sensitive and the Kyber crystalExplaining why Anakin’s lightsaber isn’t red in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Surprisingly, there was no hint of the pain and agony previously seen when Kiber was bleeding. It’s reasonable to assume the previous examples involve characters who are conflicted, while Osha has committed herself wholeheartedly to the dark side.
Sith aren’t the only ones with red lights
Others have learned to bleed their blades
It is important to note that red-bladed lightsabers are not exclusive to the Sith, instead being a symbol of the dark side on a grander scale. Case in point, the original leader of the Knights of Ren before Kylo wielded a red lightsaber. Additionally, the High Republic’s corrupt Jedi Dagan Gera bled his own lightsaber crystal as seen in the Jedi: Survivor Game from Respawn. No dark side savage has the potential to bleed Kyber using their darkest emotions.
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Ahsoka proved how it can be done
It is possible for a caber who is blooded to be pure of the dark side. This is known to have been done at least three times: by a Jedi named Orla Jareni in the High Republic era, by Luke Skywalker himself in recent comics, and most famously by Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka successfully defeated Imperial Inquisitors, and claimed their Kyber Crystals for herself. Meditating through the force, she successfully cleansed them of their darkness, turning them a beautiful and brilliant white. in Star WarsEven the darkest acts can be right.