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Who Has a Red Lightsaber?

Red lightsabers are one of the most recognizable symbols of the Sith and the Dark Side within the Star Wars universe. Anakin’s red lightsaber, forged after his fall to the Dark Side, is just one example of many. From ancient Sith Lords to fallen Jedi with red lightsabers, many iconic characters have wielded these crimson blades. But who has a red lightsaber, and what sets these users apart? Learn more about the most infamous red lightsaber wielders, what makes them unique, and how their red kyber crystals reflect their power, ambition, and connection to the Dark Side.

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Famous Red Lightsaber Users

With so many lightsaber colors in the Star Wars universe, recounting which character wields which saber can be challenging. In this series, we will discuss three notorious Sith Lords who carried red lightsabers. Expand your knowledge by learning more about red lightsaber history, fighting styles, skill sets, and any rare abilities of Star Wars’ Sith lightsaber wielders.

Darth Vader

Darth Vader, the Sith Lord, formerly known as the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, is perhaps the most recognizable character in Star Wars. A list of his notable achievements includes:

  • Master to Ahsoka Tano
  • Led the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order following Order 66
  • Co-founded The Inquisitorius
  • Defeated Obi-Wan Kenobi, his former Master, in battle on the first Death Star
  • Defeated Darth Sidious to save his son, Luke Skywalker, on the second Death Star

Anakin Skywalker began shifting to the Dark Side when his wife, Amidala, became pregnant. Skywalker started to have terrible visions of Amidala’s death during childbirth, and to prevent that fate, Anakin was driven to the Dark Side of the Force. He then became an apprentice to Darth Sidious, who gave Anakin the title of Darth Vader. When dueling Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet Mustafar, Darth Vader was devastatingly injured and underwent intensive cybernetic surgery to walk again. This is when Darth Vader was truly born and is presented in his most recognizable appearance: a black robotic suit outfitted with a menacing helmet and face mask. The switch from blue to Anakin’s red lightsaber was yet another embodiment of his anger.

Bitter upon learning of the death of his wife, Vader continued to serve the Empire, ruthlessly murdering the remaining Jedi who survived following the execution of Order 66. Additionally, Vader trained the Inquisitorius to become Jedi Assassins and aid Darth Vader in his conquest to decimate the Jedi Order.

Vader was a skilled duelist and utilized Form IV lightsaber combat technique, easily deflecting blaster fire and striking with smooth, fluid motion. Following the surgery in which Vader was outfitted with his cybernetic enhancements and armor, his fighting style became less acrobatic and shifted to powerful strikes from a stable stance. He also had remarkable Force abilities, often turning to Force-amplified pushes and chokes to restrain adversaries.

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Darth Maul

Darth Maul was a deadly Sith assassin who is highly recognizable due to his appearance, mannerisms, and overall fighting abilities. A list of his notable achievements includes:

  • Defeated Qui-Gon Jinn during the Battle of Naboo
  • Master and brother to Savage Opress
  • Led the takeover of the planet Mandalore and claimed the Darksaber
  • Founded the criminal army, Shadow Collective

Darth Maul is another iconic villain. His crimson-red skin, covered in black tattoos, along with the crown of horns on his head and his signature dual-bladed lightsaber, make him instantly recognizable. Few of his Dathomirian Zabrak species remain in existence.

Maul was thought to have perished in the Battle of Naboo after being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi, but he survived and had his legs replaced by a six-legged apparatus while on the junkyard planet of Lotho Minor. Later, Mother Talzin would replace the spider-like apparatus Maul had built with more permanent cybernetic legs. However, Obi-Wan Kenobi eventually faced Darth Maul again on Tatooine and finished him once and for all.

Darth Maul was a lightsaber duelist who incorporated acrobatic stunts and the incredible skill to battle multiple opponents simultaneously. He utilized the aggressive lightsaber Form VII during the battle and had significant Force abilities. Mind-probing and creating apparitions of himself were in his repertoire, and additionally, the magic practices of the Nightsisters.

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Darth Sidious

Darth Sidious is a Sith Lord who commanded the Empire during its reign over the galaxy. His actions shifted the course of history on multiple occasions. A list of his notable achievements includes:

  • The last Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic
  • First Emperor of the Galactic Empire
  • Master to Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus, and Darth Vader
  • Last reigning Dark Lord of the Sith under Darth Bane’s Rule of Two
  • Formed the Confederacy of Independent Systems
  • Formed the Grand Army of the Republic

Before becoming Darth Sidious, he was known as Sheev Palpatine, the last of the noble Palpatine bloodline. Sidious was trained in the ways of the Dark Side of the Force by Darth Plagueis. While acting as the representative for Naboo in the Galactic Republic Senate,  

 Sidious secretly formed the Empire behind the scenes before unveiling his regime and executing Order 66 to destroy the Jedi Order. A master of manipulation and strategy, Sidious was an expert in deception and outsourcing his servants to carry out his will, while Sidious remained beneath The Imperial Palace, attempting to use the Dark Side to reshape the Force to his own ends.

Darth Sidious is regarded as one of the all-time most powerful Force-attuned individuals. Palpatine’s red lightsaber is first revealed when four Jedi masters attempt to arrest him in the Chancellor’s office. Palpatine reveals himself as the Dark Lord of the Sith they have been looking for and quickly kills three of the four Jedi trying to take him captive. Mace Windu then becomes the first and only Jedi to ever defeat Sidious in battle, although he does not kill him. Anakin Skywalker intervenes to stop Windu from killing the Emperor. Sidious then uses his signature Force-lightning to electrocute Windu with such power that he is thrown backward off the Coruscant high-rise.

Sidious was also adept at precognition, Force Persuade, Force-enhanced speed, and possessed a wealth of Sith magic knowledge.

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Additional Star Wars Characters With Red Lightsabers

While Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and Darth Sidious are among the most well-known Sith to wield red lightsabers, they’re far from the only ones. Other notable red lightsaber wielders include Count Dooku (Darth Tyranus), Kylo Ren with his unstable crossguard blade, Savage Opress, and the Inquisitors who hunted Jedi during the Empire’s rise.

Even some Jedi with red lightsabers appear in Star Wars storylines, blurring the traditional lines between Light and Dark. In alternate timelines, Adi Gallia and Luke Skywalker have been red lightsaber users, adding more complexity to the red kyber crystal’s legacy.

Craft Your Red Lightsaber Today

Inspired by the power and presence of the red lightsaber color? At Ultrasabers, you can design your own battle-ready double-bladed or single-bladed lightsaber that reflects your inner fire—whether you walk the path of a Sith, are a rogue Force-wielder, or are a fallen Jedi. Learn how to make your custom lightsaber by choosing your hilt and customizing your features to wield a saber that channels your strength.