Exploring the Meaning Behind Every Lightsaber Color in Star Wars

In the Star Wars universe, while blue, red, and green are the most common lightsaber colors, there is a wide range of colors for these weapons in films, TV shows, video games, comics, and novels. Each color holds a significant meaning within the Star Wars canon, just like many other objects from George Lucas' galaxy. Beyond the standard lightsaber design popularized in the original Star Wars film, there are numerous unique lightsaber types, such as Darth Maul's dual-lightsaber and the spinning blades used by the Inquisitors in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Disney+ TV shows have further expanded the lightsaber lore, revealing that not all lightsaber colors are exclusive to Jedi or Sith. For example, The Mandalorian features the Darksaber, a black lightsaber that holds great importance in Mandalorian culture, despite the Mandalorians not being Force users. The Darksaber, with its distinct appearance, is powered by a Kyber crystal, the source of all lightsaber colors in the Star Wars universe. These rare, Force-attuned crystals can be found across the galaxy, imbuing lightsabers with their unique colors and meanings, a concept that may be further explored in future Star Wars movies.

Blue Lightsaber

Obi Wan Luke Blue Lightsaber Star Wars

Blue lightsabers are the most recognizable lightsaber color of all, making their debut in the first Star Wars movie. This color is immediately associated with heroes like Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as the Jedi Order itself. In the prequel trilogy, blue lightsabers were the most common choice among Jedi, dating back to Star Wars' very first lightsabers.

The color blue is often seen as representing righteousness and bravery, linked to what the Jedi stand for. It is believed that the user's strong connection with the crystal determines the color of their lightsaber. Characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, and Count Dooku all wielded blue lightsabers before his fall to the Dark Side. In Star Wars Legends, this color is designated to a Jedi Guardian, reflecting the choices made in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Green Lightsaber

Yoda Star Wars 7 Force Awakens Scene Frank Oz - Green Lightsaber

Green lightsabers are the second most common color used by the Jedi. This color is closely linked to qualities like harmony, helpfulness, cooperation, spirituality, and goodwill. In the Star Wars universe, wise and experienced Jedi like Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Luke Skywalker (in the original trilogy) often wield green lightsabers. In the expanded universe known as Star Wars Legends, green lightsabers are typically associated with Jedi Consulars, who focus more on the mental aspects of the Force rather than just lightsaber combat. However, this distinction is not as emphasized in the current Disney canon.

Purple Lightsaber

- Purple Lightsaber

The purple lightsaber is famously associated with Jedi Master Mace Windu. Mace Windu specifically asked George Lucas for a purple lightsaber because it is his favorite color. In the Star Wars universe, there is no special significance to the purple lightsaber. However, in Star Wars Legends stories, the purple lightsaber is connected to themes of moral ambiguity, uncertainty, and reconstruction, as purple is a mix of red and blue.

The purple lightsaber symbolizes that its wielder has a connection to both the light and dark sides of the Force. Mace Windu's purple lightsaber made its first appearance in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and was lost when it fell out of a window in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Purple lightsabers are quite rare, but Star Wars: The High Republic has hinted that they were more common in the past, with purple Kyber crystals displayed on a Kyber Arch in remembrance of fallen Jedi at the temple on Coruscant.

Yellow Lightsaber

Jedi Temple Guards wielding their lightsabers in Star Wars Rebels. - Yellow Lightsaber

Yellow lightsabers are primarily used by Jedi Temple guards who wield double-bladed lightsaber pikes. It is unclear whether these lightsabers are intentionally yellow to distinguish the guards or if the crystal chooses them by turning yellow. Characters like Asajj Ventress, Ahsoka, and notably Rey Skywalker have also been seen using yellow lightsabers after defeating Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker.

In Star Wars Legends, yellow lightsabers are associated with Jedi Sentinels. When Jedi Jaden Korr purified a red lightsaber crystal, it turned yellow, indicating a possible pious nature within its user. Before Samuel L. Jackson's purple lightsaber in Attack of the Clones, yellow lightsabers were one of the first non-green, red, or blue lightsabers seen on-screen in the 2000 PS1 game Jedi Power Battles featuring Plo Koon wielding one.

Orange Lightsaber

Baylan wields a lightsaber in Ahsoka. - Orange Lightsaber

The white lightsaber is another unique addition to the Star Wars canon. In Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, players can choose the white lightsaber as an option. In the Ahsoka series, the mysterious villains Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati also wielded white lightsabers. At the end of Ahsoka, it was not clear what significance the white lightsabers held in the story or in the wider Star Wars universe. In Star Wars Legends, white lightsabers have been associated with both the Sith and dark-aligned Jedi. Similar to Mace Windu's purple lightsaber, Skoll and Hati's white lightsabers suggested that they did not fully adhere to the ways of the Sith or the Jedi.

Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian - White Lightsaber

Ahsoka Tano wielded white lightsabers as a symbol of her mastery of the Force. She obtained these special Kyber crystals from the lightsaber of the Sixth Brother, an Inquisitor she defeated during the Imperial occupation of Raada while she was in hiding after Order 66. Originally red, Ahsoka purified them with the Force, turning them white to represent her independence. No longer a Jedi and free from the dark side, Ahsoka used these unique white crystals in her two lightsabers during Rebels and Ahsoka.

Red Lightsaber

Kylo Ren With Lightsaber - Red Lightsaber

Red lightsabers are iconic symbols of the Sith and the dark side in the Star Wars universe. Unlike the Jedi, who have a special connection with their Kyber crystals, the Sith cannot form this bond and must resort to stealing Kybers or using other methods to create their lightsabers. This process, known as "bleeding," involves infusing the crystal with all their negative emotions like hate and fear, causing it to turn red.

In Star Wars Legends, the Sith also had difficulty using Kyber crystals for their lightsabers, leading them to create synthetic Kybers that also resulted in red blades. This color is predominantly associated with the Sith in both the canon and Legends stories of Star Wars, with notable characters like Darth Vader, Count Dooku, Darth Sidious, Kylo Ren, and the infamous Darth Maul wielding red lightsabers.

Darksaber (Black Lightsaber)

Bo-Katan Kryze with the Darksaber. - Darksaber (Black Lightsaber)

The Darksaber made its debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2010 and has since played a significant role in the Star Wars universe. It is a unique weapon created centuries ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian Jedi, long before the Skywalker Saga. The Darksaber has been featured in various Disney Star Wars projects, including Star Wars: Rebels, but gained widespread recognition in its live-action appearance in The Mandalorian. Despite its distinct appearance as a differently colored lightsaber, the Darksaber is highly respected by all Mandalorians.

Since its introduction, the Darksaber has been wielded by several characters in the Star Wars canon. Mandalorians like Din Djarin, Bo-Katan Kryze, and Sabine Wren have all wielded the blade, as well as non-Mandalorians like Moff Gideon and Darth Maul. In the season 3 finale of The Mandalorian, Bo-Katan Kryze ultimately becomes the current wielder of the Darksaber after Moff Gideon destroys it using his Mandalorian-inspired armor.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Colors

Cyan Lightsaber Indigo Lightsaber Magenta Lightsaber Star Wars Jedi Survivor - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Colors

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor introduces three new canon lightsaber colors for players to choose from: cyan, indigo, and magenta. These colors add a fresh twist to the standard options available in the game. While their significance in the Star Wars universe is still unclear, they offer players a chance to personalize their experience. Cyan and indigo appear to be variations of the classic blue lightsaber, while magenta is reminiscent of Mace Windu's iconic purple blade. This addition to the game opens up possibilities for Disney to explore and expand on these colors in future Star Wars stories.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive exploration of the various lightsaber colors in the Star Wars universe, offering insights into their symbolism, significance, and the characters who wield them. It highlights the diversity of lightsaber colors beyond the traditional blue, red, and green, showcasing unique blades such as the purple lightsaber of Mace Windu and the black Darksaber of Mandalorian culture. The article effectively conveys the deep lore and rich storytelling embedded in the Star Wars franchise, where the lightsaber's color holds profound meaning and reflects the user's connection to the Force or alignment with the dark side.

The introduction of new lightsaber colors in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor expands the possibilities for storytelling and character development within the game. The cyan, indigo, and magenta options offer players a chance to customize their experience and express their own creativity. While the significance of these colors in the Star Wars universe is yet to be fully explored, they hint at the potential for further expansion and exploration of the lightsaber's lore and the characters who wield them.