Star Wars finally explained why lightsabers are Jedi weapons when anyone can actually use them. The lightsaber is traditionally associated with Force-sensitives like the Jedi or the Sith, which has always seemed quite strange; in reality it is just another type of weapon, and Lightsabers have been used successfully by non-Force-sensitive people on occasion. Happily, Star Wars is finally explaining the details of how a lightsaber works – and, consequently, why they are really only weapons for those who wield the Force.
The recently published Lucasfilm film Star Wars: The High Republic – Lightsaber Collection finally explains the truth. According to the book:
“Jedi can use the Force to perform incredible feats, and the lightsaber is an extension of that ability. While its blade can cut through most materials with ease, its frictionless design makes it difficult to wield without supernatural precision. One user only of the Force can use a lightsaber to its full potential.”
The issue, it seems, is that and It is possible for a non-Force-sensitive to use a lightsaber – but they can’t use it well. The frictionless design means that a lightsaber doesn’t work the same as other weapons; Furthermore, the only weight is in the handle, making it even more difficult to use. It’s easy to imagine someone who isn’t Force-sensitive accidentally getting hurt.
What the True Nature of the Lightsaber Means for Star Wars
This fits well with other comments on Star Wars canon. According to Secrets of the Jedian in-universe book supposedly written by Luke Skywalker himself, Using a lightsaber is less like holding a sword than controlling a power circuit. A Jedi bonds with their blade using the Force, allowing them to use their lightsaber safely; They have mastered complex lightsaber forms to allow them to use the lightsaber with precision and skill. Basically, they learn to operate without friction and weight.
The shapes of the lightsaber bear a visible resemblance to sword fighting, but these similarities are probably simply because they make sense given the shape of the blade; The first Force-sensitives likely adapted their forms from those they saw with traditional swords. The interesting point, though, is that Jedi and Sith could easily create more unusual and distinct forms to take advantage of the different nature of a lightsaber. Hopefully future Star Wars movies and TV shows will be even more creative.
Our opinion on this new Star Wars story
This is a clever explanation for Star Wars tradition. As seen in The Empire Strikes BackAnyone can use a lightsaber in a rudimentary way – even Han Solo. But only a Jedi or a Sith can use it well. Interestingly, it’s tempting to speculate that Finn’s nascent Force sensitivity was the only reason he was able to use the Skywalker lightsaber so well in Star Wars: The Force Awakens – appropriate, given his hopeful future as a Jedi.