Star Wars is a long-running multimedia franchise that has dominated the science fiction and blockbuster world. With dozens of films, TV shows, literature, and video games, Star Wars has made a name for itself as one of the best sci-fi sagas of all time. Thanks to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd., this status has only been elevated by bringing us gems like The Mandalorian and, most recently, The Bad Batch. The series has spawned a number of iconic items, the first of which being the weapon wielded by every Jedi: the infamous lightsaber.
A lightsaber is a rite of passage for every Jedi and Sith Lord. Charged with the Force, lightsabers are one-of-a-kind weapons that are completely personalized to the owner of the saber. From the shape of the hilt to the color of the blade, every aspect of a lightsaber is completely customized to suit every individual Jedi. But how exactly are lightsabers made?
Components of a Lightsaber
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Lightsabers are the iconic weapons that make any Star Wars characters identifiable as a Jedi or a Sith Lord. Between their appealing visuals and their unique sounds, lightsabers are the weapons we all want to really exist. A lightsaber is made up of five components: an emitter where the blade comes out, one or two sleeves as hand grips on the hilt, a switch to turn the saber on, a pommel to adorn the bottom of the saber, and a kyber crystal to power the blade of the saber. The kyber crystal is the most important part of the saber as it provides power and color to each individual saber. The specific types of materials used in the universe can vary from basic materials like steel to damage-resistant beskar, as seen in The Mandalorian.
Kyber Crystals and The Force
Lucasfilm Animation
In terms of actually putting the lightsaber together, the mechanical side of things is quite straightforward, but the kyber crystal is where it gets complicated. A Jedi cannot just choose any kyber crystal for their saber; the crystal must choose the Jedi. The Jedi must bond with the crystal through meditation in order to have their essence aligned with the crystal. While the color of the crystal has historically been attributed to levels of experience and Force-sensitivity, since Disney changed much of what was canon, the color merely matches the essence of the person it bonds with (per Screen Rant). The only color that cannot be attained naturally is red as the crystal must be activated through the corruption of the dark side, a process that can be healed.
How Lightsabers Are Made
Lucasfilm
Lightsabers may seem impossible to put together, but the technical knowledge is nothing compared to the spiritual know-how required to properly construct a lightsaber. Only Jedi and Sith Lords can build lightsabers for their needs, harnessing their Force-sensitivity into a kyber crystal to create their very own lightsaber. Without Force-sensitivity and a bonded/bled kyber crystal, one could not build a functioning lightsaber. Though the canonical lore of lightsabers has changed throughout the years, the basics of making a lightsaber have remained the same.
