The 10 best lightsaber hilts in Star Wars history

One of the most recognizable elements of Star Wars The franchise is lightsabers, although the hilts of these iconic weapons are almost always completely unique. Taking inspiration from various fantasy and science fiction stories, lightsabers bring the “magic sword” trope to a science fantasy setting. Lightsabers are the signature weapons of the Jedi Knights and their ancient enemies the Sith Lords, although in rare cases other Force-using traditions use comparable weapons or even build (or steal) their own. The Nightsister of Dathomir Gethzerion used a red lightsaber, as did Ren and Kylo Ren – the Masters of the Knights of Ren.

The original Legends continuity, formerly known as Star Wars Expanded Universe, established a fascinating lore behind the Force-imbued crystals that power lightsabers. The modern canon has rewritten lightsaber crystal lore, but lightsabers themselves share many fundamental characteristics between the two timelines. Lightsabers are almost always designed and built by their respective users. While a Jedi or Sith may base their weapon on that of their mentors or an earlier lightsaber, no two lightsaber hilts are exactly alike in most cases. While it’s a subjective matter, the following 10 lightsaber hilts are arguably the best designs in the Star Wars franchise.

10

Stellan Gios

Crossguard lightsabers were introduced in Star Wars franchise in its original Legends continuity, but they have gained unprecedented popularity in the modern canon thanks to the signature weapon of Kylo Ren – one of the main villains of the sequel trilogy. Kylo Ren’s weapon is intentionally unrefined and unstable in appearance, reflecting both its wielder and its history as Ben Solo’s Jedi weapon – which underwent crude modifications to stabilize its blade. THE Star Wars: The High Republic However, the multimedia project shows what a truly refined and carefully constructed cross lightsaber could look like.

Jedi Master Stellan Gios’ lightsaber is a visually wonderful reflection of a golden age for the Jedi and the Republic. The lightsaber mixes the sequel-era crossover lightsaber with the visual flair of the prequels, but the design is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing. The weapon’s cross protection projectors are collapsible and protect Gios’ hands much better than the more offensive quillons of Kylo Ren’s weapon.

9

Ahsoka Tano (Rebels)

Although Ahsoka Tano has the skill, Force power, and selflessness of a true Jedi, she was unfortunately never knighted. Tano’s post-Jedi Purge weapons reflect this, with their distinctive white blades – which indicates that their red Kyber crystals, previously tainted by the dark side, have been purified with the Force. The standard lightsaber and shoto (short-bladed lightsaber) were created a year after the totalitarian coup of the Galactic Empire, and their hilts are as distinctive and noteworthy as their rare white blades.

Dave Filoni – showrunner of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels as well as the co-creator of Ahsoka Tano – often looks to samurai films (particularly those of Akira Kurosawa) as a source of inspiration for his Star Wars stories. Ahsoka Tano’s post-Clone Wars lightsabers convey this in their hilt designs, which are inspired by those of katanas. Unfortunately, Ahsoka’s shoto is destroyed on Peridea in the Ahsoka season 1 finale, leaving her with just her standard lightsaber.

8

Ahsoka Tano (Clone Wars)

Ahsoka Tano’s Clone Wars-era lightsabers debuted in 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Warswith Tano initially only using a single standard lightsaber. The green-bladed weapon ended up being accompanied by a shoto with a unique yellow-green blade. Shortly before the climax of the Siege of Mandalore in The Clone Wars In the final story arc, Ahsoka was reunited with the weapons, whose blades turned blue due to Anakin Skywalker’s modifications.

The hilts on Ahsoka’s first weapons are a significant mix of previously seen design elements. The lightsabers, notably, have hilts that closely resemble Obi-Wan Kenobi’s first lightsaber, while their emitters vaguely resemble Anakin Skywalker’s second weapon. This, of course, highlights Ahsoka’s similarities to both Jedi. Although Anakin was Ahsoka’s mentor, she was also influenced by Kenobi, sharing a close friendship with the older Jedi.

7

Princess Leia (Legends)

Much like her modern canon counterpart, the original Legends version of Princess Leia Organa underwent formal Jedi training after Return of the Jedi. Unlike her more recent iteration, however, Leia eventually remained committed to the New Jedi Order. Throughout her life, Leia has used several lightsabers, some built for her by Luke Skywalker and another being an ancient lightsaber that Vima-Da-Boda gave her as a gift. Eventually, though, Leia finally built her own lightsaber during her training with Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne.

Princess Leia’s original lightsaber bears little resemblance to her weapon in the modern canon. The weapon’s grip has a unique design that stands out from the original trilogy and previous era weapons, with an elegant and refined appearance. this makes him the perfect match for a princess turned Jedi knight. Unfortunately, few materials from the Legends era provide a detailed look at the lightsaber hilt.

6

Revan (Jedi)

Revan, formerly Darth Revan, is the main protagonist and playable character of the critically acclaimed 2003 video game. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. While Revan’s appearance, gender, and characterization, including whether he aligns with the Force or his dark side, are determined by the player in-game, other Legends-era material has confirmed the canonical forms of these and other elements, which include the design and color of Revan’s lightsaber blade. As definitively shown in 2011 Star Wars: The Old Republicthe redeemed Revan used a purple-bladed lightsaber like a Jedi, with the weapon also having an excellent hilt design.

The hilt of Revan’s Jedi lightsaber may draw some basic comparisons to that of Maw – an agent of the Boltrunian Empire who uses the dark side – but the weapon is much more refined. Although Revan’s lightsaber has sharp spikes around its emitter blade – an aggressive choice perhaps reminiscent of his Sith past – the rest of the weapon’s elegance reflects his noble status as a redeemed Jedi Knight. The design of Revan’s lightsaber hilt is an excellent representation of his duality, as well as a glimpse into ancient Jedi weapons.

5

Qu Rahn

Jedi Master Qu Rahn is a veteran of the Clone Wars, survivor of the Jedi Purge, and a major character in the 1997 video game. Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Rahn’s green-bladed lightsaber, which he likely used during the Clone Wars, was given by Rahn to the Force-sensitive rebel Morgan Katarn, who would then pass the weapon to his son, Kyle Katarn. For much of Dark Forces II’s story, Kyle wields Rahn’s lightsaber as he follows a truncated path toward the Jedi Cavalry, guided by Rahn’s own Force ghost.

Rahn’s lightsaber embodies the elegance of the old-school Jedi lightsabers that Obi-Wan Kenobi described in A New Hope. The lightsaber’s simple design has a noticeably worn appearanceperhaps alluding to a long and difficult history in the Clone Wars. Dark side threat Boc even comments on the weapon’s distinctiveness, admiring its design before destroying it.

4

Kyle Katarn

In the years following his mission to Ruusan, Kyle Katarn wielded the lightsaber of the fallen dark side user, Yun. During Operation Shadow Hand, Katarn briefly fell to the dark side when visiting the nightmarish Dark Force Temple on Dromund Kaas and was overcome by its dark side energy. This led to Katarn undergoing formal Jedi training under the tutelage of Luke Skywalker on Yavin IV. As part of this training, Kyle built a blue-bladed lightsaber.

Kyle Katarn’s blue lightsaber design – appropriately enough – includes similar elements to Luke Skywalker’s weapon, though its hilt and knobs are reminiscent of previous era lightsabers like Qui-Gon Jinn’s. Katarn’s lightsaber has a noticeably longer hilt than most, and this may be due to Katarn’s preference for two-handed forms of lightsaber combat.as Djem So (Form V). Kyle Katarn’s lightsaber would be used most famously during the New Republic’s conflicts with Desann and the Empire Reborn faction of the Imperial Remnant.

3

Darth Vader

Darth Vader’s lightsaber is the first Sith lightsaber shown on screen and remains one of the Star Wars most famous in the franchise. After his cybernetic reconstruction, Darth Vader built a new lightsaber to replace his blue-bladed Jedi weapon. In the years between his defeat at Mustafar and his debut in A New HopeVader has grown into his role as a Sith Lord, and each continuity gives a different explanation for the origin of his Sith weapon. In his original Legends-era incarnation, Darth Vader powered his weapon with a red synthetic lightsaber crystal, while modern canon has him corrupt a Jedi Kyber crystal.

Fascinatingly, Darth Vader’s lightsaber uses a hilt almost identical to that of his first Jedi lightsaber. Anakin’s first weapon is used throughout Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clonesbut its destruction on Geonosis causes it to be replaced by its most famous weapon from the Clone Wars era. The hilt of Darth Vader’s lightsaber uses the same design as his first weapon, only the emitter cover is black instead of chrome.

2

Anakin Skywalker (Clone Wars)

Anakin Skywalker’s Clone Wars-era lightsaber is arguably the most famous in the world. Star Wars franchise in general. The blue-bladed weapon is the first lightsaber to be fired on screenand has a history with multiple holders throughout the original Legends timeline and modern canon. Anakin Skywalker built and used the weapon during the Clone Wars (and, briefly, as Darth Vader), and it would be passed down to Luke Skywalker, Luuke Skywalker, Mara Jade, Finn, Rey, and Ben Solo.

Anakin’s Clone Wars-era weapon is the quintessential lightsaber. The iconic grip – constructed from an old-fashioned camera flash unit – includes multiple settings, dials, a prominent covering on its blade emitter, and an activation matrix on its center section. This wartime lightsaber – appropriately enough – has a weathered look from the original trilogy, having been used constantly during the Clone Wars and in the three years in between. A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.

1

Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber is the first green-bladed weapon shown on screen, debuting in Return of the Jedi. The weapon was originally designed to have a blue blade, but was changed to green for easier viewing during Return of the Jedi Carkoon Well action scene. This choice would be retroactively appropriate, as the color of the weapon’s blade would match Yoda’s, while the handle design is nearly identical to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Clone Wars-era weapon.

Like many Jedi Knights, Luke Skywalker uses a lightsaber that pays homage to his mentors, and the hilt – while not a complete recreation of Ben Kenobi’s weapon – is undeniably inspired by him. Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber – and Kenobi’s, for that matter – easily has one of the best hilt designs in the world. Star Wars saga. The lightsaber is elegant and minimalist, with a shape that vaguely resembles an old candlestick and two lights installed above its activation switch – located near the hilt.