Darth Vader: Lightsaber Color & Lore
The lightsaber Darth Vader wields is one of the most menacingly iconic weapons in Star Wars history. Darth Vader, with his intimidating red lightsaber in hand, is the ultimate image of Sith prowess, the red glow casting dark shadows as it glares off his helmet. Below, we’ll explore Darth Vader’s lightsaber colors and saber hilt, even Darth Vader’s lightsaber dimensions, combat form, and major on-screen history worth noting from both canon and Legends.
Technically, Darth Vader’s first lightsaber is a blue-bladed saber, the same one he used as a young Jedi named Anakin Skywalker. He went through several lightsabers during the course of his Jedi training until he eventually built his iconic Graflex lightsaber, the one with which he slaughters younglings and duels his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, on Mustafar after his turn to the Dark Side in Star Wars: Episode III— Revenge of the Sith. The same saber that Obi-Wan takes and later gives to Luke Skywalker, which eventually ends up in the hands of Rey.
While that “elegant weapon” is undoubtedly important in Star Wars history, it’s not our focus here. We’re looking at Darth Vader’s lightsaber in all its Sith glory, the red one first seen in the original trilogy. Let’s examine how Vader forged his red blade, how long it is, where it appears, and what it reveals about the fallen Jedi once known as Anakin Skywalker.
Darth Vader’s Lightsaber: Hilt, Color & More
The original Darth Vader lightsaber prop that was used for his lightsaber hilt in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (then just called Star Wars) was built from the flash tube of an MPP Microflash camera, later updated for Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi with a Graflex tube like the one used for Luke’s first lightsaber (aka Anakin’s).
The similarity between the two is no coincidence. In Star Wars lore, Darth Vader’s lightsaber length and hilt intentionally resemble the saber he used as Anakin, including its:
- 28-centimeter hilt length
- Alloy metal and carbon composite materials
- Black-ridged grip
- Power cell chamber
- Adjustment knobs
- Rounded emitter shroud
That said, Vader’s red saber has more black detailing and two kyber crystals for enhanced blade stability and power control. There’s a practical element to this; having a similar hilt gives Vader tactical control through familiarity. However, one could view this as a visual metaphor indicating that the Sith Lord has not let the past die as much as he, or his Sith Master, Darth Sidious, would like to believe.
What Color Lightsaber Does Darth Vader Have?
Darth Vader’s lightsaber color is red. The Sith and other adherents to the Dark Side of the Force all use red lightsabers, from Count Dooku to Kylo Ren. These historical crimson blades are created by “bleeding” a kyber crystal through anger, pain, and hatred. Read more about this formidable color in our guide, Who Has a Red Lightsaber?
How & When Does Darth Vader Get His Red Lightsaber?
The first red lightsaber this infamous Sith has is technically not the one from the original trilogy, so where did Darth Vader get his lightsaber? Shortly after becoming a Sith Lord, with the Great Jedi Purge (aka Order 66) in full effect, Emperor Palpatine orders Darth Vader to hunt down Kirak Infil’a (a Jedi Master in hiding) and obtain his lightsaber. He does, then takes the saber to Mustafar, a place that represents his anger, hatred, and pain, to bleed its kyber crystal (the Sith practice of pouring those negative emotions, their source of power, into the kyber crystal to corrupt it and turn it red).
While Kirak Infil’a’s hilt is destroyed in a confrontation with bounty hunters, Vader salvages its bled kyber crystal. This corrupted crystal becomes the heart of the new Sith lightsaber he forges — that legendary Darth Vader lightsaber hilt seen in the original trilogy. This backstory for Vader’s lightsaber was established in the 2017 Darth Vader comic series published by Marvel and written by Charles Soule.
Major Appearances of Darth Vader’s Lightsaber On Screen
Darth Vader’s lightsaber has shown up many times across media, including in movies, shows, novels, comic books, and video games like Jedi: Fallen Order. Let’s look at the most notable appearances of Darth Vader with his lightsaber on screen, both animated and live-action. The following are listed in timeline order, not release order.
The Clone Wars
While not heavily featured, this appearance is certainly impactful to the overall Star Wars canon. The series finale of The Clone Wars, titled “Victory and Death,” features a flash-forward epilogue in which Darth Vader, lightsaber at his side, discovers the wreckage of the Tribunal along with the discarded lightsaber of his former padawan Ahsoka Tano.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, which focuses on Obi-Wan’s life between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, features several appearances from Darth Vader’s lightsaber, most notably in the rematch between Vader and his former master. These duels also highlight the brutal, heavy saber combat style, Form V: Shien and Djem So, that Vader uses (more on that below).
Rebels
Vader’s presence looms over Rebels, and the series features some significant Darth Vader lightsaber duels, including against Kanan Jarus and, in the epic Duel on Malachor, both Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Darth Vader’s appearance in Rogue One is a fan favorite for good reason. His siege of the rebel ship during the Battle of Scarif features some of the most incredible lightsaber maneuvers ever committed to film, as Vader’s lightsaber slashes through a group of “Rebel scum” with cunning precision.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
The Death Star Duel in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, featuring the final confrontation between Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi, is the first appearance of Darth Vader’s lightsaber on screen. Viewers in 1977 had never seen anything like it, and Obi-Wan’s death at the hands of the Sith Lord cemented Vader as one of cinema’s greatest villains.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The silhouettes of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader locked in an intense, advanced saber duel on Cloud City form one of the most enduring images in Star Wars. Here, we see Vader dueling with his red lightsaber against Luke using his old blue one, just before cutting Luke’s hand off and delivering that most devastating line, “I am your father.” While Vader’s lightsaber is truly terrifying here, it’s his words that cut Luke down, leading him to falter.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
The final Darth Vader lightsaber duel is during the Battle of Endor with Luke, now a Jedi possessing a green lightsaber with a hilt modeled after Obi-Wan’s, in the Emperor’s throne room on the second Death Star. As Luke tries to kill Palpatine, Vader once again attempts to lure him to the Dark Side—but Luke resists, and it’s ultimately Vader who turns, destroying the Emperor and becoming Anakin Skywalker once again just before his death.
What Happened to Darth Vader’s Lightsaber?
In their final confrontation, Luke knocks Darth Vader down and cuts off his saber hand. Darth Vader’s lightsaber, along with his severed hand, falls into the reactor shaft of the second Death Star, with its destruction mirroring Vader’s symbolic rebirth as Anakin Skywalker.
What Lightsaber Form Does Darth Vader Use?
Another critical point of discussion regarding Darth Vader is his lightsaber form of choice. Vader employs Form V, which has two variants: Shien and Djem So. Both are aggressive forms of lightsaber combat that redirect incoming attacks and counterstrike with overwhelming power. As Anakin, he favored Shien; as Vader, he modified Form V into a heavier, more brutal hybrid incorporating elements of multiple lightsaber forms to suit his armored body.
“When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master.” —Darth Vader
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Sources:
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Vader%27s_lightsaber
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Bleeding
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Victory_and_Death
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Skywalker_lightsaber
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Kirak_Infil%27a%27s_lightsaber
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Vader%27s_lightsaber/Legends
- https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Form_V/Legends
- https://starwarsrebels.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Vader