Darksaber History and Origins

What is the Darksaber?

The Darksaber is characterized by its unique black plasma blade, which is flat and thin, shorter than the conventional saber blade, and shaped at the end into a curved, tapered point. It resembles a sword more than it does a standard lightsaber. Additionally, the Darksaber emits a higher-pitched hum than the average saber, and it sometimes emanates an electrical-like crackle when it comes into contact with another blade.

The innovations of the Darksaber are more than merely cosmetic. This specialized saber is engineered to deflect lightsaber blades—in fact, it seems to attract an opponent’s blade to it, making offensive strikes difficult against the Darksaber user.

How Many Darksabers are There?

It is important to understand that the Darksaber is a unique weapon, not a style that can be imitated. That accounts for its rarity in the Star Wars universe—there is literally only one in existence.

Tradition holds that the Darksaber can be won only by besting its owner in combat. All other methods of taking possession of this black lightsaber are considered invalid. As we shall see, the enormous symbolic value attached to the Darksaber tends to encourage individuals to honor this long-standing custom.

A Brief History of the Darksaber

The history of the Darksaber begins with its creator, Tarre Vizsla, a human male from the planet Mandalore. Vizsla was the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order. With this powerful black lightsaber at his side, Vizsla became ruler, or Mand’alor, of his home planet, and his distinctive dark lightsaber became strongly linked to this station. This is where the true Darksaber origins begin, as well as its strong connection to one specific planet in the Star Wars universe.

Following the death of Tarre Vizsla, the Darksaber fell into the hands of the Jedi Temple. It would not remain there forever, though. During the fall of the Old Republic, members of House Vizsla—one of the major political factions of Mandalore—managed to steal the Darksaber from the Jedi. This aided House Vizsla immensely in assuming leadership of Mandalore. The Darksaber would remain with House Vizsla for generations.

The Darksaber Falls Into Sith Hands

Mandalore did not enjoy stable governance for long, however, as the event known as the Mandalorian cataclysm and a subsequent civil war turned it into a chaotic battleground. Eventually, the Mandalorian known as Pre Vizsla, leader of the terrorist group called Death Watch, wielded the black lightsaber in his efforts to seize control of Mandalore and return it to its past glories, with help from Darth Maul. Vizsla would succeed in this mission, but victory proved to be short-lived. Vizsla made the mistake of betraying Maul, who returned the favor by killing him in a lightsaber duel. This made Darth Maul the rightful owner of the Darksaber, and it marked the first time (but not the last) in Darksaber legend that the blade fell into the wrong hands.

Maul, however, soon lost the Darksaber when Darth Sidious defeated him in combat and sent him away to prison on Stygeon Prime. After getting out of Stygeon Prime, Maul made his way to Zanbar and regained possession of the Darksaber. He would use it successfully in many ensuing battles, including against such legendary foes as General Grievous and in pivotal moments like the second battle of Dathomir.

The Darksaber is Reclaimed by Mandalorians

From here, we jump ahead to the Imperial Era, when the Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren discovered the Darksaber on the planet Dathomir. She underwent training under Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus so she could effectively use the saber in service of the rebel cause. Things wouldn’t go too smoothly for Wren, however. She temporarily lost possession of the Darksaber as Gar Saxon, Darth Maul’s underling, took control of it. However, Wren defeated Saxon in battle and became, under Mandalorian tradition, its true owner.

Wren eventually passed the Darksaber to Bo-Katan Kryze, who used the fabled Mandalorian sword to become the new Mandalore. During the Great Purge of Mandalore, Bo-Katan Kryze surrendered the Darksaber to Moff Gideon in hopes that it would stop the Galactic Empire’s destruction of the Mandalorian homeworld. The purge continued, and Kryze was forced to flee her homeworld, vowing to one day return and reclaim the legendary saber.

The Darksaber After the Fall of the Galactic Empire

Moff Gideon would be the Darksaber’s owner for many years to come, surviving the fall of the Empire and assuming control of the Imperial remnant. It was during a battle with lone Mandalorian Djin Djarin that he lost the black lightsaber. Djarin, a foundling adopted by the Mandalorians, would carry the saber with him but was reluctant to wield it nor bear the weight of leadership it bestowed. More than once he attempted to return the Darksaber to Bo-Katan Kryze, who ultimately accepted it when she and her fellow Mandalorians were convinced that Djarin was merely a carrier meant to return the black lightsaber to its rightful owner. 

With the remaining Mandalorians once more united under Kryze, the Darksaber would see its final days in a battle against the forces of Moff Gideon and his army of dark troopers. It was in this battle that the Darksaber was destroyed, seemingly gone for good.

Forge Your Own Path at Ultrasabers

At Ultrasabers, you can find a wide selection of high-quality Darksaber hilts in our inventory. Personalize your Darksaber today, or craft your own lightsaber. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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