Mention “Star Wars” and the iconic lightsabers leap to mind – inspiring even grown men to make the hum and swishing sounds. Wielded by both Jedi and Sith, it was introduced to us in 1977’s Star Wars by Obi-Wan Kenobi as “an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” Since then, though, Star Wars lore has expanded on the idea of lightsabers across its massive film, TV show, gaming, and toy franchise. Here are some of the coolest ones in the Star Wars universe.

Darth Maul’s Dual-Bladed Lightsaber

As far as the wider moviegoing audience was concerned, lightsabers were these singled-bladed “laser swords” that came in several colors. Then came 1998’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace‘s trailer… and. it. changed. EVERYTHING! You could almost hear the collective gasp around the world when Darth Maul popped out a second blade as the iconic Duel of the Fates theme got your blood pumping for the fight to come.

Lumiya’s Light-Whip

While Darth Maul might have changed all our perceptions about lightsabers, it wasn’t actually the first attempt at exploring new concepts. Back in 1985, Marvel’s Star Wars comic introduced Lumiya, one of Darth Vader’s former proteges, who wielded a Light Whip. This weapon was made from a combination of unbreakable Mandalorian Beskar Steel and lightsaber Kyber crystals resulting in a flexible lightsaber beam. 

Count Dooku’s Curved Lightsaber

As seen in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Dooku’s curved hilt lent an air of elegance befitting the character’s noble heritage as Count of Seranno and the caliber of the late Sir Christopher Lee, the actor who played the villain.

Asajj Ventress’ “S-Curve” Dual Lightsabers

Asajj Ventress was first introduced in the 2003 animated micro series Star Wars: Clone Wars as Count Dooku’s apprentice, which probably influenced by her lightsaber design. Featuring a pair of curved hilts, she typically dual-wielded them but would also interlock the hilts together to form a double-bladed lightsaber with a distinct “S” curve hilt.

The Darksaber

This unique weapon that was introduced into Star Wars lore during the Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2008 series.  It boasts a black blade and was made by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi. It has since been passed down through the generations as a symbol of leadership – [Spoiler alert!} which makes its appearance at the recent season 1 finale of the live-action show, The Mandalorian, all the more fascinating!

Jocasta Nu’s Lightsaber Rifle

Jocasta Nu was the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives, in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. In the comic series Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, Nu finds herself in battle with Darh Vader, and she assembles a rifle frame, in which she loaded a lightsaber, which turned the kyber energy into blaster bolts. However, it only lasts a few rounds and melts the lightsaber. So, if you’re using this, make sure you don’t miss!

Inquisitor Double-Bladed Spinning Lightsaber

If you Jocasta Nu’s Lightsaber Rifle above didn’t make sense, this one might get your head… spinning (heh). This made our list because it was novel – but unfortunately edged a little bit on the gimmicky side of things (you could almost hear the Disney marketing executive going, “GIVE ME SOMETHING I CAN SELL!”). The lightsaber was first seen in Star Wars: Rebels, which introduced The Grand Inquisitor and the Inquisitorius, Dark Side force users who weren’t Sith Lords in the same way as Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine were; but were tasked with enforcing the will of the Galactic Empire. It also made an appearance in the PS4 game, Star Wars: Fallen Order. It could be used both single- and double-bladed; and its double-bladed mode could spin in a circular motion while the hilt would remain stationary in relation. And this is where it gets silly: Inquisitors have also been seen using this feature to fly, like a helicopter…

But…

Ahsoka Tano’s Lightsabers

Anakin Skywalker’s padawan Ashoka Tano dual-wielded her pair of lightsabers – one standard, one short (or, “shoto”-style) – using a reverse-grip. Her lightsabers boasted pure white blades; which the creative team of Rebels chose because it was a visual way of distinguishing her. Since, Tano was neither a member of the Jedi Order or a Dark Side Force user, and her white blades help to show her neutral affiliation. Uncolored  kyber crystals were extremely rare, but Tano made hers by made by purifying two kyber crystals that had been previously corrupted by an Imperial Inquisitor, changing them from blood red to pure white.

Kylo Ren’s Cross-guard Lightsaber

First revealed in the 2014 teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it launched all manner of commentary and memes. However, you’ve got to admit that Ben “Kylo Ren” Solo’s unique lightsaber – seemingly designed to look incomplete and crackling with raw, unstable power – was visually arresting and helped channel the character’s personality in battle.

The Jedi Temple Guard’s Lightsaber Pike

Interestingly, lightsaber pikes – essentially a lightsaber-tipped spear or halberd that was either single- or double-bladed – were used by both Jedi and Sith. It’s more popularly known to be the weapon of choice for Jedi Temple Guards during the Clone Wars, and has also been seen to be used by Knights of Zakuul, the enforcers of justice in the Eternal Empire.

Tera Sinube’s Lightsaber Cane

Tera Sinube was seen in Star Wars The Clone Wars series and was a sort of investigator for the Jedi – basically, a Force-powered Sherlock Holmes who was also an expert in Coruscant’s criminal underworld. His lightsaber was hidden in his walking stick – which he would whip out and use to fight when necessary.

Yoda’s Lightsaber

Essentially a standard lightsaber right-sized for Yoda’s deceptively diminutive stature, it initially made us go, “Awww, that’s so cute,” when first seen in Episode II: Attack of the Clones’s duel between the little green Jedi grandmaster and his former padawan Count Dooku. Then, Yoda unleashed hell and we had to pick up our jaws after that fight scene.

Kanan’s Two-part Lightsaber

Kanan Jarrus was one of the survivors of Order 66 and was living in hiding. His lightsaber was a reflection of that: its hilt could be separated into two parts to avoid being recognized. Whenever he needed it, though, he merely needed to quickly put it together and ignite it.

Ezra Bridger’s Pistol Blaster Lightsaber

Ezra Bridger was introduced as the protagonist of Star Wars Rebels, who eventually became a Jedib after being padawan to Kannan Jarus. His first lightsaber was an interesting one: its hilt incorporated a blaster. Bridger, however, could have worked a little more in aesthetics because it looked like a staple gun.

Pong Krell’s Double Double-bladed Lightsaber

Yes, you read that right: Pong Krell, a traitorous Jedi from The Clone Wars series, wielded two double-bladed lifesabers at the same time because he had four arms. What’s also cool was how Krell’s dual-bladed lightsabers could also fold for storage – kinda same-same but different to Rey’s below.

Mace Windu’s Purple Bladed Lightsaber

Everyone knows those lightsaber because of how it came about: actor Samuel L. Jackson wanted a purple-bladed one so he could be easily distinguished from the horde of Jedi in the Petranaki Arena battle on Geonosis, from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. That, and the fact that he’s been the only on-screen Jedi with a purple lightsaber to date, makes it muthafuckin’ cool.

Maris Brood’s Tonfa Sabers

Maris Brood was introduced in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game. She was a Jedi Padawan who fell to the Dark Side after her master, Shaak Ti, died during Order 66. Brood carries twin lightsabers with hilts that resemble tonfa. The additional perpendicular grips allowed her to wield them in new and interesting ways.

Darth Malgus’ Saber

Sith Lord Darth Malgus debuted in the Star Wars: The Old Republic video game set 3,600 years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Often relying on rage to fuel his Dark Side connection, Darth Malgus’ lightsaber hilt featured blade-like protrusions that looked menacing enough without even igniting the blade!

Dark Rey’s Switchblade Saber

In a bit of a fakeout, we first see Rey wield this weapon in the trailer for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, only to learn during the actual movie that this was part of a vision. Like Pong Krell’s above, the hilt can be folded in half – but it could also be used as a dual-bladed lightsaber with the hilt folded. 

Cal Kestis’ Lightsaber

One of the most recent additions to the Star Wars universe, Cal Kestis is introduced as yet another Jedi who survived Order 66 in the video game, Star Wars: Fallen Order. Because of the customization options in the game Kestis’ lightsaber is as cool and amazing as you make it out to be. However, it also makes our list because it works both single- and double-bladed with a hilt that can be split or combined. This makes for a very cool special move in the game: where Kestis goes from single-to-double bladed or double-to-single bladed in one attack move!

Did we miss any? If so, let us know send a tip. Otherwise, which is your favorite one?