Summary
DisneyStar Warsmay continue to receive backlash and negativity online, but, in truth, since Disney’s acquisition, the franchise has seen the introduction of some of the coolest lightsabers inallStar Warsmovies and TV shows. Since the red, blue, and green options of the originalStar Warstrilogy,lightsaber colors and their meaningshave grown exponentially. In fact, even more than the movies,Star Wars’best TV showshave included incredible lightsaber adaptations.
Many of these innovative additions were done in animation (which arguably is easier than live-action when it comes to getting creative with lightsaber designs). However, more recent live-action shows, such asAhsokaandThe Acolyte, have featured new lightsabers as well. Here are the 10 coolest lightsaber designs throughout DisneyStar Wars’movies and TV shows.
All 20 Lightsaber Types In Star Wars Canon Explained
The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi and the Sith – but there have actually been many different types in Star Wars canon.
Ahsoka Tano
Although Ahsoka Tano had already wielded two lightsabers, a standard blade and a shorter shoto saber, inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, the introduction of her white lightsabers inStar Wars Rebelswas fascinating. Specifically,the reason Ahsoka had white lightsabersearns them the status of one of the coolest lightsabers in DisneyStar Wars. In addition to being a cool new color—as there always seems to be pressure to have a new design inStar Warsprojects—Ahsoka’s white lightsabers confirm that she falls outside the Jedi/Sith binary.
Ahsoka’s Jedi journey has been an incredibly complicated one, and not just because she was Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner. Rather, her dismissal from the Jedi Order, survival of Order 66, and involvement in the Rebellion against the Empire all make her stand out as truly unique among the rest ofStar Wars’Jedi. However, Ahsoka’s journey grappling with whether she truly is a Jedi is the most compelling, making her white lightsabers all the more meaningful.
Baylan Skoll
Yet another innovative color,Baylan Skoll’s orange lightsaber inAhsokais among DisneyStar Wars’coolest lightsaber designs. Baylan Skoll is a wonderful addition to the franchise because he represents the type of moral ambiguity that makesStar Warsinteresting. Yes, Baylan is clearly comfortable using the dark side of the Force. However, he has a reverence for the Jedi that makes him much more complicated than a typical Sith or even one ofthe Imperial Inquisitors.
Baylan Skoll is a wonderful addition to the franchise because he represents the type of moral ambiguity that makesStar Warsinteresting.
The meaning of an orange lightsaber remains unclear, although there is some suggestion that orange was a color wielded by Dark Jedi. This would make sense in Baylan’s case, as he does seem to be closer to a Dark Jedi than any other categorization of Force-sensitive beings inStar Wars. Nevertheless,the upcomingAhsokaseason 2may reveal more about this color and its meaning.
Ezra Bridger
As mentioned,Star WarsTV shows have been the sources of some of the most innovative lightsaber designs in the entire franchise, andStar Wars Rebelsis no exception. In fact,Rebelswas the show to introduce several lightsabers on this list. One such design is protagonist Ezra Bridger’s blaster lightsaber, which, as the name suggests, combined a blaster with his lightsaber hilt.
While Obi-Wan Kenobi may have disliked this design, as he found blasters"so uncivilized,“this saber was certainly amongStar Wars’coolest and was in keeping with Ezra’s character. Ezra was a far cry from a conventional Jedi, and he’d lived on his own as a scrappy, troublesome kid during the Dark Times. It makes sense that he would still rely on a blaster even after acquiring a lightsaber. Sadly, this design didn’t stick around for long, and Ezra’s lightsaber has changed multiple times since.
Rey Skywalker
TheStar Warssequel movies have received plenty of flak, some of it legitimate and some of it just trolling, but even naysayers tended to like the style of both Sith Rey and her lightsaber inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Many had hoped thatThe Rise of Skywalkerwould see Kylo Ren and Rey switch places, with Kylo Ren embracing the light side and Rey turning to the dark. Ultimately, this didn’t come to pass (although, arguably, that could’ve made the Palpatine twist work better), but audiences did get a glimpse of what that could have looked like.
Haunted by the mounting evidence that her origins were more nefarious thanStar Wars: The Last Jediled viewers to believe,Rey had a vision of herself as a Sith, complete with sharp teeth and a red, double-bladed lightsaber. Unlike other double-bladed lightsabers, though, Rey’s Sith saber could have the two blades side-by-side or extended in the more traditional sense. The scene including Sith Rey was very brief, but this design was nevertheless one of DisneyStar Wars’coolest.
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
While Rey’s double-bladed Sith lightsaber may have been cool,many agree that Kylo Ren’s crossguard lightsaber was the coolest lightsaber design in the sequel trilogy. In fact, especially compared toStar WarsTV shows, the sequels didn’t get all that inventive when it came to lightsaber design. However, Kylo Ren’s crossguard stands out as cool even when compared withStar Warsshows and movies.
The best aspect of Kylo Ren’s design is the way it mirrors his character.
The best aspect of Kylo Ren’s design is the way it mirrors his character. Like Kylo Ren, the crossguard lightsaber is unstable, which gives it the chaotic-looking blade and satisfying sound. This instability is seen in Kylo Ren throughout the sequel trilogy, right up until he accepts the light side of the Force once again and returns to Ben Solo. Prior to that transformation, though, he was prone to bouts of anger, unpredictable, and dangerous.
5Jocasta Nu’s Lightsaber Rifle
First Appeared In: Darth Vader #10 (2017)
Although this lightsaber has yet to appear on-screen, either in animation or live action, Jocasta Nu’s lightsaber rifle, seen in theStar Warscomics, is one ofStar Wars’best lightsaber designs. InDarth Vader #10 (2017), written by Charles Soule, it is revealed that Jocasta Nu, the former Jedi archivist, is one ofthe survivors of Order 66. Sadly, this discovery ultimately ends in her death when she faces Darth Vader, but not before she gets to show off her incredible lightsaber rifle.
In addition to being an amazing design, this lightsaber comes as a surprise. In the prequel movies, Jocasta Nu’s character was minimally involved, and she mainly seemed like a soft-spoken librarian—albeit one who was obstinate in her insistence that her archives couldn’t possibly be missing Kamino or any other planet. However, she was clearly concealing a much braver, more capable nature, as this lightsaber rifle is one ofStar Wars’most intimidating.
4Qimir’s ‘Dagger’ Lightsaber
First Appeared In: The Acolyte
Star Wars’newest Sith has already made a splash inThe Acolyteand not only because he brutally murdered multiple Jedi in one episode. In addition to shockingly being introduced as a love interest to protagonist Osha,Qimir/the Stranger revealed a number of tricks that make him a very compelling villain. In addition to using cortosis armor, a Legends concept that shorts out lightsaber blades, Qimir also uses Forbidden Forms in his lightsaber duels and has an incredible lightsaber design.
Star Wars Introduces A New Sith Lightsaber That Really Does Break All The Rules
The Acolyte has just introduced a new type of lightsaber never before seen in live-action Star Wars, and it breaks all the rules of lightsaber combat.
In fact, because his main lightsaber blade conceals a second, smaller ‘dagger’ blade, Qimir was able to use the element of surprise to cut down Jedi Padawan Jecki Lon. Shorter sabers aren’t new toStar Wars, as Ahsoka, Yoda, and other major characters have wielded them. However, this concealed weapon and the way Qimir uses it make this dagger blade one ofStar Wars’coolest lightsaber designs.
3Kouru’s Lightsaber Parasol
First Appeared In: Star Wars: Visions
Star Wars: Visionssadly didn’t gain much traction in the franchise, perhaps because it wasn’t canon,but the iconic look of the lightsaber parasol cannot be denied. As the name suggests, the parasol lightsaber has the shape of an umbrella with multiple blades that can spin simultaneously. Essentially, it is a much more intimidating take on General Grievous' four lightsaber technique seen inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Visionsalso introduced a number of creative lightsaber designs, including a lightsaber shaped like a machete, a version of a lightwhip, and an odd microphone lightsaber. In fact, as the show was automatically non-canonical, it may have been more free to create entirely unique lightsaber designs than otherStar Warsprojects. Of all theVisionslightsabers, though, the lightsaber parasol is the absolute coolest.
2The Inquisitor’s Spinning Lightsaber
First Appeared In: Star Wars Rebels
The Inquisitors were a terrifying (but excellent) addition toStar Wars, serving Lord Vader and doing his bidding by hunting down and killing Force-sensitive beings, children included. In fact, their prominence inStar Warsshows has only increased with time, suggesting their popularity. While their nature is therefore compelling enough, their lightsabers make them even cooler. Specifically,the Inquisitor’s red lightsaber blade, which contains a circular center, allowing the lightsaber to spin, is one ofStar Wars’coolest.
This blade has been shown in animation and in live action, and it is equally intimidating in both. WhileObi-Wan Kenobimay have been criticized for the live-action versions of the previously animated Inquisitors, their lightsabers translated to the live-action screen perfectly. Notably, this is yet another lightsaber design that has a spinning mechanism, suggesting that this lightsaber capability is particularly favored in the franchise.
Vernestra Rwoh
The coolest lightsaber design in all of DisneyStar Warsis Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh’s lightwhip, which just made its live-action debut inThe Acolyte. In addition to how incredible the design of a lightwhip is in and of itself, Vernestra’s is also magnificent because of its bright purple hue. Following Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber in the prequel trilogy, this color has rarely been seen, making this lightsaber all the more epic.
The best of this lightsaber is also yet to be shown, as Vernestra has only pulled it out once and hasn’t used it in battle. However,The Acolyteis heavily hinting that a massive battle between Vernestra Rwoh and Qimir/the Stranger is coming, meaning this lightsaber is about to shine even more. While DisneyStar Warswill no doubt continue to create brand-new, thrilling lightsaber designs, thus far, these 10 stand out as the very coolest.
