Darth Maul: Lightsaber Info & Lore

Few things have excited Star Wars fans as much as the reveal of Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber—the first of its kind (known as a saberstaff) on screen. The hype for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was off the charts, and the lightsaber Darth Maul used contributed immensely to that, as well as the striking image of his horned head and tattooed face.

Though his original screen time was brief, Darth Maul’s story expanded significantly across The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and other Star Wars canon material. For Maul, lightsaber combat was not ceremonial—it was an extension of rage, precision, and domination, perfectly embodied by a weapon with two blades.

Each trilogy in the Skywalker Saga has featured a lightsaber that surprised and delighted fans in the lead up to release: Luke’s green lightsaber for Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Kylo Ren’s crossguard lightsaber for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. But it’s Darth Maul, with lightsaber skills nearly unmatched among the Sith, who takes the cake.

Let’s review some of the most critical facts about Darth Maul’s lightsaber to understand more about the famous Dathomirian Zabrak.

By Ultrasabers Updated December 18, 2025 (Originally Published November 16, 2022)

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How Did Darth Maul Get His Lightsaber? Why Does Darth Maul Have a Double Lightsaber? What Is the Name of Darth Maul’s Lightsaber? The Evolution of the Original Darth Maul Double-Bladed Lightsaber Darth Maul’s New Lightsaber Other Darth Maul Lightsaber Facts What Lightsaber Form Does Darth Maul Use? Get Your Own Darth Maul Inspired Lightsaber

How Did Darth Maul Get His Lightsaber?

Darth Maul designed his original lightsaber himself. After studying how to use a double-bladed lightsaber, Darth Maul built his own based on plans found in a Sith Holocron belonging to his master, Darth Sidious. The process for creating this impressive weapon involved joining two lightsaber hilts end-to-end, allowing Maul to ignite one or both blades as needed (our version uses a quick release coupler to combine sabers).

Why Does Darth Maul Have a Double Lightsaber?

Darth Maul has a double-bladed lightsaber because he trained extensively to use one, channeling his rage and hatred of the Jedi to make himself the ultimate weapon of the Sith. Maul’s prowess with his lightsaber in battle gave him the choice to use only one blade or pop both to engage more than one enemy at a time.

In Legends, Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber was born out of necessity. He’d been sent to kill Siolo Ur Manka, a powerful Jedi, and found himself physically bested. Instead of trying to win a fight he could not win, Maul relied on his cunning—he retreated to his ship, built two lightsabers, and welded them together. This allowed him to surprise and defeat the Jedi.

What Is the Name of Darth Maul’s Lightsaber?

Darth Maul’s lightsaber does not have a formal name, but it is commonly referred to as a saberstaff due to its extended hilt and dual emitters. In Legends, Darth Sidious encouraged Maul to name the weapon, believing it would become legendary, but Maul rejected the idea, viewing it only as a tool of destruction, much like Darth Maul himself.

The Evolution of the Original Darth Maul Double-Bladed Lightsaber

The original Darth Maul lightsaber was the double-bladed one seen in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (cue “Duel of the Fates”) for what seemed like the first and last time. However, Maul’s shocking return also meant the return of this lightsaber (or part of it). In canon versus Legends, there are a few crucial differences with Darth Maul’s lightsaber:

Canon: Maul constructs his double-bladed lightsaber under Darth Sidious’s guidance and wields it throughout Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and later The Clone Wars.
Legends: This material expands on his weapon’s origins, suggesting Maul refined the design after facing stronger Jedi opponents, emphasizing adaptability and survival.

Fans also wonder: Does Darth Maul’s lightsaber have two kyber crystals? His double-bladed lightsaber is powered by at least two kyber crystals (one for each blade), allowing both saber emitters to function independently.

Original Darth Maul Lightsaber Hilt Design

How long is Darth Maul’s lightsaber? While exact measurements vary, Maul’s lightsaber is significantly longer than a standard single-blade hilt, reinforcing its role as a polearm-style weapon rather than a traditional Jedi saber.

The first Darth Maul lightsaber hilt was, as mentioned, two hilts forged together, making it about 49.5 centimeters long with a blade extending from each end. Made of alloy metal, it’s a relatively simple design with black accent markings and red buttons. It is a red lightsaber, as it is standard for a Sith Lord to wield a red saber.

The Battle of Naboo

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace features the Battle of Naboo, during which Maul fights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Darth Maul’s lightsaber skills are impeccable, and he’s able to kill Qui-Gon Jinn. However, the shock of this sends Obi-Wan into a rage.

Obi-Wan uses advanced lightsaber moves to beat Darth Maul, cutting his lightsaber (and him) in half. Maul and his lightsaber plummet down the reactor shaft, chopped in half and left for dead.

The Son of Dathomir Returns

Shockingly, The Clone Wars reveals that Darth Maul survived his duel with Obi-Wan, saved by Savage Opress, his brother. Maul heals and crafts robotic legs to walk again. Savage even recovered Darth Maul’s lightsaber (half of it) and gave it back to him. Now, a single-bladed lightsaber, Darth Maul uses the weapon to gain power in the criminal underworld, forming the Shadow Collective.

Maul (he’s technically not “Darth” by this point, having been replaced as Sidious’ apprentice by Count Dooku and later Darth Vader) swears vengeance on both Obi-Wan Kenobi and his former master, Darth Sidious. He has a rematch with Obi-Wan during the Clone Wars era, and he even confronts Darth Sidious. However, he is bested and loses both his lightsaber and the Mandalorian Darksaber that he’d acquired while consolidating power.

The Return of the Dual Blades

Darth Maul gets his lightsaber back (along with the Darksaber) and crafts an additional one to forge to its end. During the Siege of Mandalore, he uses this double-bladed lightsaber to fight Ahsoka Tano. While Ahsoka shows him mercy and doesn’t kill him, Maul’s original lightsaber falls and is forever lost.

Darth Maul’s New Lightsaber

After the end of the Clone Wars and the dawn of the Galactic Empire, Maul crafts a new double-bladed lightsaber. You could say this is Darth Maul’s second lightsaber, as he’d previously used different versions of his original. This is the lightsaber Darth Maul wields in Star Wars Rebels and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Second Darth Maul Lightsaber Hilt Design

Darth Maul’s new lightsaber is a significant change from the original, with a hooked grip-guard similar to those of the Inquisitors, possibly having been built from the scraps of an Inquisitor’s lightsaber. It still produces two red blades—or perhaps “crimson” is a more apt description, as he takes control of the Crimson Dawn criminal organization while using it. Maul would conceal the hilt with wood, using it like a walking stick in public.

Final Quest for Revenge

Star Wars Rebels features the final confrontation between Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Still consumed by vengeance, Maul tracks his former enemy to Tatooine. During their brief but decisive duel, Maul’s lightsaber is damaged once again, and he is ultimately defeated—bringing his long pursuit of revenge to an end.

Other Darth Maul Lightsaber Facts

In the canon comic book Star Wars: Age of Republic – Darth Maul, the Dark Side of the Force gives Maul a vision of himself as a Jedi. While this is a dream sequence, it gives us a rare opportunity to see Darth Maul wielding a double-bladed blue lightsaber.

How many lightsabers has Darth Maul had? Maul is also one of the few characters known to have wielded the Darksaber, a rare distinction. Over the course of his life, Darth Maul wielded at least four: In addition to the Darksaber, this includes his original double-bladed lightsaber, a single-bladed version recovered after Naboo, a reforged double-bladed saber used during the Siege of Mandalore, and a later double-bladed lightsaber seen in Star Wars Rebels and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

What Lightsaber Form Does Darth Maul Use?

What form does Darth Maul use to easily defeat many of his opponents? DMaul’s lightsaber form is the aggressive Form VII: Juyo, also called the “Ferocity Form.” With his impressive lightsaber, Darth Maul’s fighting style also draws on Jar’Kai, the method of dual-wielding or carrying a double-bladed saber. For Darth Maul, dual lightsaber skills are crucial, and when combined with Juyo, he’s incredibly violent and unpredictable.

“You may think I am evil. I am not. I am efficient.” —Darth Maul

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