The fearsome blade colours, signature sound effects, dazzling designs and epic battles fought with these lightsabers further add to what makes them such amazing weapons.
The bond that lightsabers have with the Jedi who wield them is one of the main reasons why lightsabers have different designs. The other reasons are the wielder’s fighting style and personal preferences.
As a Jedi enthusiast looking to add a real life lightsaber to their Star Wars collection, here are some dazzling lightsaber designs for you to consider.
The Double-Bladed Lightsaber (Notable Wielder: Darth Maul)
If there is anything better than wielding a single lightsaber blade, it is wielding a double one. The double-bladed lightsaber or saberstaff was first introduced to Star Wars fans in The Phantom Menace where Darth Maul used the weapon to kill Qui-Gon Jinn and nearly defeat fan-favourite character, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
This lightsaber design, which was created by Sith Dark Lord Exar Kun, features a single lightsaber mechanism with an emitter attached to both ends of the hilt. The resulting weapon is lightsaber staff with blades at both ends. In addition to its unmistakable aesthetic appeal, the double-bladed lightsaber also gives its wielder a lot of practical and psychological advantages during combat, from quicker attacks and more surface area for parrying and deflecting to the overwhelming opponents with the sight of two blades moving at the same time.
Apart from Darth Maul and Exar Kun, other Force users who wielded double-bladed lightsabers include; Darth Zannah, Asajj Ventress and light side users like Pong Krell, Cere Junda and Cal Kestis.
The Lightsaber-Blaster Hybrid (Notable Wielder: Ezra Bridger)
This weapon, which was wielded by Ezra Bridger and his mentor Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars: Rebels was something that definitely took Star Wars fans (and even Obi-Wan Kenobi) by surprise.
The lightsaber-blaster hybrid design was created by some active Jedi to protect themselves during the Galactic Empire when carrying around their choice weapons (lightsabers) was considered a capital offence. The idea behind this design was to combine the long-range effectiveness of a blaster with the elegant power of a lightsaber. It is with these hybrid lightsabers that Ezra Bridger and his Master were able to kick-start the rebellion that led to the Galactic Empire’s defeat.
Crossguard Lightsaber (Notable Wielder: Kylo Ren)
Although the crossguard lightsaber first appeared in The Force Awakens, its design is quite ancient, dating back to the Great Scourge of Malachor.
The design is a standard lightsaber blade with small twin blades attached to a forked hilt. To put it simply, the weapon has a second emitter placed at a 45-degree angle to the axis of its hilt. This second emitter allows a short, sideways beam of light to be discharged.
The crossguard lightsaber was famously wielded by Kylo Ren, who was the leader of the Knights of Ren.
Inquisitors Lightsaber
These double-bladed spinning lightsabers were designed specifically for a group of Force-sensitive agents known as the Inquisitorious. Although it sounds complicated, the workings of this lightsaber design are actually quite simple.
The lightsaber’s hilt is attached to a disk which holds light beam emitters. To use it, the wielder simply holds on to the hilt while the disk spins the blades around in a circular motion. This lightsaber design makes it almost impossible for an opponent to land a strike on its wielder.
Curved-hilt Lightsaber (Notable Wielder: Count Dooku)
This lightsaber design which is a slight variation of a standard lightsaber embodies a lot of elegance. What makes this lightsaber stand out is its uniquely curved hilt which gives a wielder a much better grip for precise movements during close lightsaber combat. The hilt’s design also allows the wielder to attack from angles that aren’t typically possible with regular lightsabers. Count Dooku notably wielded a curved hilt lightsaber. Other characters like Darth Bane and Tott Doneeta also wielded curved hilt lightsabers.
Single-Bladed (Standard) Lightsaber
This is the standard lightsaber design that features a cylindrical hilt with a single blade. This lightsaber design is the very first that was introduced in Star Wars. It is also the type of lightsaber wielded by some of the most powerful and legendary characters of the Star Wars universe, such as; Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, and Darth Vader
Dual-Phase Lightsaber
This is an uncommon variation of the single-bladed lightsaber. This design uses a combination of two or more crystals, with one serving as the primary crystal while the others serve as secondary focusing crystals. With the push of a button, the weapon allows its wielder to rotate these crystals into a new alignment which changes the blade’s length (extends or shortens) during use. This design element allows for long-range attacks. It can also cause an opponent’s guard to falter, which is great for the wielder.
Darth Vader notably wielded a dual-phase red lightsaber. Corran Horn (New Jedi Order comic books) is another character who famously wielded a dual-phase lightsaber.
Conclusion
There are many designs and variations of lightsabers used in the Star Wars universe, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. If you’re looking to add a lightsaber to your collection, any of the above-mentioned lightsaber designs will make for a superb choice.