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At the heart of every one ofStar Wars' lightsabers is a powerful crystal, usually kyber, but there have been many other alternatives in canon and Legends. The lightsaber is the iconic weapon of both Jedi and Sith, but surprisingly the name wasn’t created by George Lucas himself; he originally called them “lazerswords” in his first drafts, but wanted to avoid anything that sounded too scientifically accurate.The word “lightsaber” was actually created by novelist Alan Dean Foster, who helped Lucas on the script for the firstStar Warsmovie.
Lucas consideredStar Warsto be fantasy first and foremost, which meant he didn’t want people to think too much abouthow lightsabers worked. He underestimated how popularStar Warswould become, and over the decades, a whole pseudoscience has emerged explaining just that. In both canon and Legends,a lightsaber’s power is channeled through a Force-attuned crystal, one to which a Jedi or Sith bonds. But what kind of crystals are used in lightsabers?
18Kyber Crystal
The most important power-source in both canon and Legends
Kyber is the most famous crystal used in lightsabers. Living crystals attuned to the Force, they were found across the galaxy, although the Jedi of the prequels tended to retrieve theirs from the sacred planet Ilum. Natural kyber are a pearlescent white, although they tend to change color when they bond with a Jedi. Sith turn kyber to the dark side (“bleeding” them) by pouring their own anger, fear, and hatred into the crystal.
How Sith Turn Their Lightsabers & Kyber Crystals Red
The way Sith Lords obtain kyber crystals for their red lightsabers is incredibly dark in the Star Wars galaxy, a brutal and torturous rite of passage.
Kyber crystals were never common across the galaxy, but they’re even rarer by the end of the Skywalker saga. As seen inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, the scientist Galen Erso realized kyber could be used to focus the energy required to create devastating superweapons like the Death Star.The Empire essentially ransacked the entire galaxy for kyber; the planet Ilum itself was eventually converted into Starkiller Base, the superweapon inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
17Adegan Crystals
Five types of crystal found only in the Adega system, these are Force-sensitive and can be imbued with a portion of a Jedi’s power; they don’t seem to have the same durability as Ilum kyber, however. There are five types of Adegan crystal, and they are:
In Legends, the Sith learned how to use Adegan crystals to power stealth ships. This technology may well still be in use in canon, explaining why Palpatine had access to steath-equipped vessels of an unusually small design - such asDarth Maul’s Sith Interceptor.
16Allya’s Exile & Allya’s Redemption
Named after the Exile in KOTOR
Named after the Jedi Exile, the unique crystal known as Allya’s Exile granted a lightsaber additional burn damage. Meanwhile, Allya’s Redemption is a green gem with an acidic effect. The Exile is officially canon, so it’s possible the gems are as well. If so, there could well be similar gemstones out there, of unknown provenance.
15Ankarres Sapphire
One of KOTOR’s most intriguing gems is still canon
The Ankarres Sapphire was a legendary healing gem inKOTOR, but it can also be used to refract the energy of lightsabers. Although only one Ankarres Sapphire is mentioned inKOTOR, where it is found by Meetra Surik, canon has hinted there are many such gems. It remains to be seen whether they can be used in lightsabers in canon.
14Corusca Gems
Precious and valuable gems found in gas giants
Considered some of the most precious and valuable gems in theStar Warsgalaxy, corusca gems are formed deep within the cores of gas giants like Yavin. They are incredibly hard but have “shatterpoints” that can be used to break them. In canon, they’re as sought after as other substances like beskar, and are hugely profitable for smugglers. In Legends, two Jedi - Ganner Rhysode and Jacen Solo - both powered their lightsabers with corusca gems.
13Dahgee Crystals
An unusual type of crystal from Star Wars Legends
InStar WarsLegends, the Jedi of the planet Dahgee were noted for their unusual lightsaber blades; they had a zigzagging pattern, a dark core and a strange, silver glow. These came from the use of Dahgee crystals in the lightsaber, which presumably refracted power in slightly different ways to kyber.
12Dantari Crystal
A classic crystal from KOTOR
Hailing fromStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dantari Crystals - which come in a range of different colors - were popular with the Jedi before the discovery of Ilum. They’re commonly associated withKOTOR’s Meetra Surik, who found a crystal from the eggs of the Kinrath on Dantooine. TheStar Wars: Force & DestinysourcebookGadgets & Gearcanonized them as a variant of kyber.
11Dragite Gems
Unusual gems that produced unique lightsabers
A dull and brittle kyber variant found in the D’olop mountain range on the planet M’haeli, these are notoriously difficult to work with a lightsaber. They are known, however, for producing some fantastic and useful weapons;lightsabers that produce shockwaves on impact, disorienting, stunning, or harming targets. They first appeared in theStar Wars: River of Chaosminiseries by Louise Simonson and June Brigman, but have been mentioned in canon since.
10Durindfire Gem
An unusual lightsaber crystal actually found on Tatooine
According to Legends, the Durindfire Gem - a crystal found in the sands of Tatooine - can be used to power lightsabers with a distinctive silver sheen. Traditionally used by Jawas to make lenses that protected their eyes from Tatooine’s harsh sunlight, the Durindfire Gems were sought after by the Empire - and the Rebel Alliance monitored shipments of them to identify Imperial research projects. They’re quite a cool addition to Tatooine lore.
9Ghostfire Crystals
Rare gems that generate absolutely silent lightsabers
Introduced in theStar Wars: Force & DestinysourcebookEndless Vigil, Ghostfire crystals are rare and expensive, found on only a handful of Outer Rim worlds. They produce lightsaber blades that are absolutely silent - and almost translucent, making them very difficult to see. They appear to manipulate the Force around enemies, meaning they create strange, almost hallucinatory effects that make them difficult t track.
