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The History of Double-Bladed Lightsabers

The lightsaber is an undeniably impressive weapon, not only due to its imposing appearance but also its ability to cause major damage to foes on the battlefield. The prototypical lightsaber conforms to the single-blade design, where a plasma blade protrudes from an emitter attached to one end of the lightsaber hilt. But as every Star Wars enthusiast knows, some lightsabers deviate from the standard model and traditional saber components. One of the most eye-catching of these alternative designs is the double-bladed lightsaber (also known as a doublesaber, dualsaber, saberstaff, and double-sided lightsaber, to name a few), an uncommon variant with a fascinating history that we will delve into below.

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What Is a Double-Bladed Lightsaber?

The construction of a double-sided lightsaber is quite simple. Where a standard saber has a single blade emitting from the end of the hilt, the double-blade version features two blades emerging from opposite ends. Due to this design, double-bladed lightsabers are often classified as staff weapons (similar to a real-world bō staff). Some models are even engineered to separate in the center, allowing the wielder to create two fully functional single-bladed lightsabers.

The dual blades bear a strong resemblance to another staff weapon, the lightsaber pike (or lance), which is characterized by a long handle that can be configured to emit a blade at each end. Combat techniques with the saberstaff and lightsaber pike (or general staves) are similar, drawing inspiration from martial arts. They all emphasize sweeping arcs and defensive spins that make advanced lightsaber combat tactics and styles so impressive.

As mentioned earlier, this cool lightsaber design has several alternate names in Star Wars lore, including saberstaffs, doublesabers, dualsabers, and dual-bladed sabers. While these names are essentially interchangeable, the most famous example of this weapon is Darth Maul’s red saberstaff (the Xeno DP Menace Staff at Ultrasabers), which first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Read Darth Maul: Lightsaber Info & Lore to learn even more about this impressive weapon.

The idea of dualsaber Jedi or sabers that could split into two hilts appears mainly in Legends material, while most on-screen examples (such as Darth Maul or Asajj Ventress briefly using a saberstaff) are considered canon.

 

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The Double Blade in Action

In combat, wielding dual lightsabers requires a distinct approach to offense and defense. The wielder of a double blade cannot safely or effectively employ many movements and attacks commonly used with the single-bladed saber. An inexperienced combatant could even accidentally skewer themselves. Mastering a saberstaff takes extensive training for skilled lightsaber combat, which is one reason this weapon remains rare in the Star Wars galaxy.

Advantages & Limitations of The Saberstaff

Despite its challenges, the double-sided lightsaber offers multiple advantages. It allows for a high rate of attack that often overwhelms opponents with its ferocity. While it isn’t especially well-suited for thrusting strikes, its forceful sweeping attacks can result in devastating damage, especially when utilizing form-specific saber maneuvers. Additionally, the scarcity of dual-bladed lightsabers means many duelists are unprepared to face them, giving the wielder a significant element of surprise.

Early Days of Doublesabers

In Legends, the dualsaber is believed to have been invented by the Dark Lords of the Old Sith Empire. Its first notable appearance was in the Great Sith War when Exar Kun, the one-time Jedi Knight, used it to lead his Brotherhood of the Sith into battle. His modified single-blade lightsaber with a second plasma blade emitting from the other end proved devastating against the Jedi Order. Even his former Jedi Master, Vodo-Siosk Baas, was no match for the double lightsaber in one-on-one combat against him.

Kun was later vanquished by the Jedi in a battle on Yavin 4, and his saber was lost. In Legends stories, the weapon passed through many hands, including Jedi Master Celeste Morne, the Arkanian warrior Jarael, and her nemesis Chantique, before eventually returning to the Jedi. The saberstaff also appeared during the Jedi Civil War, used by both Jedi Consulars and Sith Inquisitors (check out our Xeno DP Inquisitor lightsaber replica).

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Double-Bladed Saber Revival in Canon

 Despite its effectiveness, the dual-bladed saber design remained rare until it was famously revived by Darth Maul, whose menacing red-bladed double lightsaber soon became notorious throughout the galaxy and wowed fans when it debuted in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Other notable wielders of the double-blade lightsaber during the Clone Wars era include Asajj Ventress, Darth Zannah, and General Grievous.

While never common, the dualsaber became a symbol of intimidation. Its presence often gave the wielder a tactical advantage, since few Jedi or Sith were accustomed to defending against its sweeping attacks. The weapon again faded into obscurity after the Clone Wars, with only rare sightings until Luke Skywalker established the New Jedi Order.

Interested in getting your very own double-bladed lightsaber? Ultrasabers has some of the most impressive single and dual lightsabers for sale, including fully customizable saberstaffs. If you are unsure what the best double-bladed lightsaber to buy would be for your needs, explore our full product catalog to find a replica that reflects your style, or reach out anytime with questions.

You can also join fellow fans at SaberForum.com! It’s the go-to discussion board for discussing popular lightsaber colors, Star Wars lore, or the eternal conflict of Jedi vs. Sith.