Star Wars is one of the most emblematic franchises in the history of media; and without a doubt, the lightsaber is one of the most symbolic artifacts in the universe created by George Lucas.
Lightsabers come in many colors. But, is there a specific purpose for each hue? Find out the meaning of each lightsaber color from Star Wars!
Kyber crystals
Before we dive into the lightsabers’ colors, it’s essential to talk about the kyber crystals. According to Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi, these powerful and rare gems, also known as lightsaber crystals, are the ones responsible for activating the lightsaber and defining its color.
How? Thanks to its natural concentration of Force energy, the kyber crystal generates power when ignited and, as its being assembled, the gem aligns with its builder’s nature. The result? A unique weapon whose color matches its master’s character.
Blue lightsabers
Blue lightsabers are associated with the Jedi Guardians, fighters who focused on using the Force in physical and tactical ways. This is the most common color in the Jedi Order since the guardians were the ones entrusted with missions across the galaxy.
A blue lightsaber master stands out as someone who’s brave and righteous. The wielder relies more on the fighting style rather than force powers.
Green lightsaber
Green lightsabers are identified with the highest level in the Jedi Order: The Jedi Consul. They dedicated their time to studying the secrecy of the Force. Masters of these lightsabers are seen as thinkers and philosophers.
Their training goes beyond the physical technique since they rely on the knowledge, harmony, and spiritual balance.
Red lightsaber
Red lightsabers belong specifically to those who turn to the Dark Side of the Force— the Sith being the most outstanding. Unlike the Jedis, the kyber crystal has to be “corrupted” for it to change to this color.
The process is known as “bleeding”: The builders of the red lightsaber pour in all their negative emotions (fear, hate,…) into the crystal, creating dark energy and turning the sacred gem into a reddish hue.
Since it was artificially created, the red crystal is commonly known as a type of synthetic lightsaber crystal (or synth-crystal). The master of the red lightsaber seeks victory, relies on strength, and will not hesitate to use the Force in an aggressive way.
Purple lightsaber
The purple lightsaber is one of the rare colors found in the Star Wars universe. At first, this hue was a personal request from Samuel L. Jackson (a.k.a. Mace Windu) to George Lucas.
However, the purple lightsaber became canon, meaning that others could own this weapon (though it’s uncommon to see it). Some say that this color can be gained by one who’s extremely skilled in balancing the Light and Dark Sides of the Force.
This is due to the fact that purple results from the combination of red and blue. The wielder of the purple lightsaber is described as disciplined, ambivalent, and may be constantly renovating their principles.
Yellow lightsaber
Yellow lightsabers were even rarer ones within the Star Wars universe. This color is usually to identified with Jedi Sentinels, members of the Order who focused on school studies and balance in combat, and guards of the Jedi Temple.
Little is down about the yellow lightsaber. Still, it’s said that their owners are intrigued by various fields of study, such as engineering and medicine. They’re also master the art of stealth, making them a dangerous opponent.
White lightsaber
The white lightsaber has been used by one character in the entire franchise (so far): Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s former padawan. Ashoka created this color after taking the red crystals from Sixth Brother, an inquisitor of the Empire, and using the Force to purify the corrupted crystals.
Her white lightsaber separates her from the Jedi and the Sith alike. This symbolizes her neutrality and her virtuous knowledge of the Force.
Black lightsaber
Black lightsabers, better known as darksabers, aren’t a typical Jedi (or Sith) weapon per se. This unusual sword belongs to the Mandalorians. Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian, created this black lightsaber.
The darksaber is shorter than a common lightsaber and has the shape of a blade. There can only be one owner of this weapon since it gives it’s master the right to rule the people of Mandalore.
How can you become the dark saber’s master? You need to defeat or kill its current wielder. So, let’s say that it shows off a person’s ruthlessness.
Orange lightsaber
The orange lightsaber is the newest color within the Star Wars saga. Their recent canon lightsaber was added in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as a pre-order reward for the video game.
Little is known about the orange lightsaber. After all, it lacks an origin story Yet, if we analyze its master’s life, referring to Cal, this color could reflect the character of an experienced and competent fighter, and who’s capable of learning from the past.
If you’d had the chance to wield this weapon from a galaxy far, far away, which color do you think would best represent you?
Images from: Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Electronic Arts
