The Meaning of the White Lightsaber

In the Star Wars universe, as it was revealed in the original Episode IV: A New Hope, lightsabers came in one of two colors: blue lightsabers (wielded by the Jedi) or red lightsabers (wielded by the Sith). Later additions to the canon expanded the palette of Star Wars lightsaber colors. What didn’t change, however, was the significance of lightsaber coloration—it always indicates the user’s relationship to the Force and/or their position in their order, whether that means Jedi, Sith, or somewhere in-between. Below, we’ll dive into the history and lore surrounding the white lightsaber, one of the rarest lightsaber colors in the known Star Wars universe.

Customize any of our Lightsabers with a White Blade

How Did White Lightsabers Come About?

White lightsabers are closely associated with Ahsoka Tano, who entered the canon as a teenage Jedi apprentice (Padawan) under Anakin Skywalker in the time of the Clone Wars. This first appearance found Ahsoka supporting Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi in leading a Republic clone army in the victory against the opposing droid army on Christophsis, and later in rescuing the kidnapped Rotta, Jabba the Hutt’s son. At this time, however, Ahsoka Tano’s lightsaber was green, eventually becoming two green lightsabers, one somewhat shorter than the other. Ahsoka’s dual green lightsabers aided her in many battles during the Clone Wars.

So how did Ahsoka make the transition to white blades? Following the Clone Wars, Ahsoka left the Jedi Order on poor terms and found herself without her usual weaponry, as depicted in the 2016 novel Star Wars: Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston. While on the farming moon Raada, she encountered the Sixth Brother (a member of the Inquisitorius) during an uprising and defeated him in a duel. Taking his kyber crystals, Ahsoka was able to create two brand-new lightsabers with curved hilts. But the process of crafting the blades turned the crystals from red to white, purified to be white from then on.

That event marks the origin of the white lightsaber in the Star Wars universe, or silver lightsaber, at least as far as we know at the present time.

What Does a White Lightsaber Mean?

The meaning of a white lightsaber is closely tied to Ahsoka Tano and her leaving the Jedi Order. A color and beacon for good, the white lightsaber is closely tied to those who walk their own path for the betterment of others.

Purifying Light: A white lightsaber is made from cleansing or purifying a kyber crystal, which means that its owner must have enough purity or goodness of heart to affect the crystal.
Independence: As evident with Ahsoka Tano, white lightsaber wielders owe no allegiance to either the Sith or the Jedi Order. They walk their own paths, guided by their own hearts and minds.
Strength of Will And Determination: Because they walk their own path, wielders of the white lightsaber have enough resolve and willpower to forge their own destiny and connection with the Force.

Ahsoka Tano: After the Fall of the Jedi Order

Fourteen years after the collapse of the Jedi Order, Ahsoka Tano and her dual white lightsabers assisted the rebels of the freighter starship the Ghost as they fought against the encroaching Galactic Empire. Initially aiding the effort as an undercover spy of sorts (codenamed Fulcrum), she later provided vital leadership to the rebels as she fought alongside Sabine Wren, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, and the rest of the Spectres. They battled the ruthless Darth Vader—who was revealed, to her shock, as the one-time Jedi Knight under whom she served as an apprentice.

Get Your Own Ahsoka-Inspired Lightsabers

White Kyber Crystals: How Are They Made?

White kyber crystals, unlike their more colorful counterparts, are found in the Adega system and are called Adegan crystals. There were five main types of Adegan crystals, namely Mephite crystals which would be infused with a small amount of Force Power from their user. Additionally, white kyber crystals can be made from the process of cleansing or purifying another crystal. This process removes the color from the crystal, resulting in the illuminating white (or “silver) glow.

Why Are Ahsoka Tano’s Lightsabers White?

As we’ve noted, Ahsoka’s effort to create lightsabers from stolen kyber crystals had the effect of turning them from red (the Sith color) to white. This wasn’t a random development.

Ahsoka’s disaffiliation from the Jedi Order following the Clone Wars meant that she could not wield the standard blue lightsaber. At the same time, she was also free of the corrupting influence of the dark side, so the red lightsaber was also not an option. She was, in effect, independent of both sides, although sympathetic to the Jedi cause. The crafting process essentially purified the kyber crystals, turning them into a color that befitted her status as an autonomous individual. This is how Ahsoka Tano’s lightsaber was born and what the white lightsaber represents—a force for good, but free of the burdens and restrictions of bureaucracy.

Craft Your Own White Lightsaber at Ultrasabers

The lightsaber you wield says much about your personality, allegiances, and emotions. Are you Sith, Jedi, or, like Ahsoka Tano, a force for good removed from the Order? At Ultrasabers, you can craft your very own white lightsaber and represent compassion, hope, and light.

Construct Your Lightsaber Today