Star Warshas finally explained why lightsabers are Jedi weapons, when anyone can actually use them. The lightsaber is traditionally associated with Force-sensitives such as the Jedi or the Sith, which has always seemed rather strange; in reality it’s just another type of weapon, andlightsabers have been successfully used by non-Force-sensitives on occasion. Fortunately,Star Warsis finally explaining the details ofhow a lightsaber works- and, consequently, why they’re really only weapons for those who wield the Force.
Lucasfilm’s recently-publishedStar Wars: The High Republic - Lightsaber Collectionexplains the truth at last. According to the book:
“Jedi can use the Force to perform incredible feats, and the lightsaber is an extension of that skill. While its blade can slice through most materials with ease, its frictionless design makes it difficult to wield without preternatural precision. Only a Force user can use a lightsaber at its full potential.”
The point, it seems, is that itispossible for a non-Force-sensitive to use a lightsaber - but they can’t use it well. The frictionless design means a lightsaber doesn’t handle in the same way as other weapons; what’s more, the only weight is in the hilt, further making it difficult to use. It’s easy to imagine someone who isn’t Force-sensitive accidentally injuring themselves.
What The Lightsaber’s True Nature Means For Star Wars
This fits well with other comments inStar Warscanon. According toSecrets of the Jedi, an in-universe book supposedly written by Luke Skywalker himself,using a lightsaber is less like holding a sword than it is like controlling a circuit of power. A Jedi bonds with their blade using the Force, allowing them to use the lightsaber safely; they master complexlightsaber formsto allow them to use the lightsaber with precision and skill. They essentially learn to operate without friction and weight.
All 20 Lightsaber Types In Star Wars Canon Explained
The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi and the Sith – but there have actually been many different types in Star Wars canon.
Lightsaber forms bear a visible similarity to swordfighting, but these similarities are likely simply because they make sense given the shape of the blade; early Force-sensitives likely adapted their forms from ones they saw with traditional swords. The interesting point, though, is that Jedi and Sith could easily create more unusual and distinctive forms to take advantage of a lightsaber’s different nature. Hopefully, futureStar Warsmovies and TV shows will be even more creative.
Our Take On This New Star Wars Lore
This is a smart explanation forStar Warslore. As seen inThe Empire Strikes Back, anyone can use a lightsaber in a rudimentary way - even Han Solo. Butonly a Jedi or a Sith can use it well. Oddly enough, it’s tempting to speculate Finn’s nascent Force-sensitivity was the only reason he could use the Skywalker lightsaber so well inStar Wars: The Force Awakens- fitting, given his hopeful future as a Jedi.
Finn
Brainwashed as a stormtrooper for the First Order, Finn was able to resist his conditioning - likely due to his Force-sensitivity. Initially unwilling to ally with the Resistance, he nonetheless eventually chose to side with them, and became a good friend to both Rey and Poe Dameron. Finn led a squad of ex-stormtroopers during the fateful Battle of Exegol, a conflict that saw him finally embrace the Force.
