The Star Wars franchise has become well-known among fans for a number of reasons, from epic space battles to powerful battles between Jedi and Sith warriors and their mastery of the Force. Sith and Jedi also use deadly weapons known as lightsabers that have become iconic pieces of Star Wars mythology.
Lightsabers have been created and wielded by Jedi and Sith for generations and can be as unique as the warriors who wield them, with some standing out among the rest for their interesting designs, capabilities, and legendary appearances in the franchise that we'll be taking a closer look at today with a dive into some of the coolest lightsabers in a galaxy far, far away.
Updated March 27, 2023, by Jake Fillery: Whether it’s the iconic ‘swooshing’ sounds of the lightsaber or the stellar designs of some of the individual lightsaber hilts, there is no weapon more elegant for a civilized age, and truthfully, no weapon as iconic and cool in the Star Wars mythos. Lightsabers are known throughout the world, to audiences that haven’t even seen Star Wars. Due to the iconic franchise having been around for decades and the sheer volume of movies, shows, and video games that have been released during that period, there are plenty of cool examples, but the very best lightsabers in Star Wars find ways to set themselves apart.
23 Tera Sinube's Cane Lightsaber
Perhaps "cool" is not the right adjective to describe Tera Sinube's versatile lightsaber, but it is unique and tailor-made to suit the Jedi Master's needs. For the most part, Sinube uses this item as an aid to help him get around, keeping the saber out of sight and out of mind.
If a situation turns dire and calls the experienced Jedi into action, he only needs to remove the shaft from the collar to unleash his kyber crystal blade. The cane can lull enemies into a false sense of security since it makes Sinube seem vulnerable, and the Jedi can also duel wield the lightsaber and cane.
22 Ezra Bridger's Pistol-Hilted Lightsaber
Star Wars Rebels introduced fans to young Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger as he joined the crew of the Ghost and began to train in the use of his Force abilities, which eventually led to the creation of his first lightsaber using spare parts provided by his fellow Rebels.
Ezra created an entirely unique pistol-hilted lightsaber that featured a blue blade and also functioned as a blaster, though it was destroyed in battle with Darth Vader, which forced Ezra to create a more conventional green-bladed lightsaber.
21 Yoda Proves That Size Matters Not
The best lightsaber designs in Star Wars may not need to be the largest, as Yoda’s lightsaber perfectly fits his small green hands. What’s most interesting about Yoda’s lightsaber is the fact that it is more of a shoto blade, as the hilt and the blade are far smaller than the average lightsaber.
Once again, despite appearances, Yoda proves that size doesn’t matter and that the Force is the greatest ally of a Jedi. Yoda has one of the coolest lightsabers in Star Wars, and the fact that it was seen once again in The Book of Boba Fett, is a potential gift to Grogu.
20 Dooku’s Curved Lightsaber
Dooku served as the figurehead for the Clone Wars, establishing himself as a powerful Sith Lord and savvy politician throughout the conflict. He might've only been a stopgap to Palpatine, but Dooku's ability in combat came through in every battle he was featured in.
Dooku's curved lightsaber was one that stood out from most other Jedi during his time with the order. Aside from the unique design, Dooku's saber was one that allowed him to better capitalize on his fighting style. When he joined the Sith, Dooku kept the saber, swapping out its kyber crystal for a much more suitable red one.
19 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Thin-Necked Lightsaber
Over the years, Obi-Wan Kenobi has gone through quite a trauma, and his lightsaber has been present for all of it. It’s somewhat unique when compared to other lightsabers due to its thin-neck design. This elegant weapon works perfectly for the personality of someone with Obi-Wan’s talent and sass.
It’s definitely one of the coolest lightsaber hilts in Star Wars, not to mention one of the most iconic. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber even inspired Luke Skywalker further down the line, adding yet another to the coolest Star Wars Lightsabers.
18 Darth Vader's Iconic Red Sith Lightsaber
The original villain of the Star Wars franchise was Darth Vader, who had an intimidating presence in the original trilogy both due to his dark armored form as well as his blood-red Sith lightsaber that contrasted the blue and green lightsabers of the Jedi.
The activation of Darth Vader's red lightsaber has become an iconic moment in Star Wars that has appeared to great effect in movies like Rogue Omne: A Star Wars Story and video games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to make it one of the coolest and most unforgettable lightsabers in the Star Wars universe.
17 Revan’s Versatile Lightsaber
With Knights of the Old Republic set to get a remake, bringing up Revan's lightsaber seems appropriate. Revan had a massive presence within the old EU but has yet to make a similar mark in the current cannon. The remake could very well change a lot from the original, so fans might have something completely different in mind going forward when thinking of Revan's saber.
Revan used a variety of lightsabers, with the most notable being the ones he used during his time as a Sith and later after his redemption. This is the latter saber, which Revan made use of throughout his journeys in the EU canon.
16 Mace Windu's Purple-Bladed Lightsaber
While Jedi had previously only wielded two colors of lightsabers, that all changed when Samuel L. Jackson joined the cast of the prequel trilogy as Mace Windu, which led to the introduction of Windu's purple-bladed lightsaber in 2002's Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
Windu's unique electrum-plated amethyst lightsaber distinguished the skilled Jedi warrior from even his other fellow Jedi Council members and was clearly visible on the battlefield, further separating it from some of the other lightsabers that have appeared across the franchise.
15 Qui-Gon Jinn, Simple Yet Elegant
Although Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber hilt may seem rather simplistic and bulky, it further shows the detachment that Qui-Gon has from the materialistic world. A lightsaber is a weapon, an elegant means of protection, and Qui-Gon utilizes that well with mastery and wisdom.
The design of Qui-Gon’s lightsaber might not sell itself as one of the best-looking lightsabers for its simplicity, but it doesn't stop it from being distinct. The immediate eye-grabber is the big red button to turn on the blade, as well as the consistent sized hilt for comfort.
14 Kylo Ren's Unstable Crossguard Lightsaber
Star Wars' cinematic sequel trilogy launched in 2015 with Episode VII: The Force Awakens and continued the Skywalker Saga by introducing new legacy characters like the corrupted Ben Solo, who followed in his grandfather Darth Vader's footsteps as the masked Sith Kylo Ren.
Kylo Ren instantly drew the attention of fans with the debut of his crossguard lightsaber, which featured an unstable red blade generated by a cracked Kyber crystal that featured dual vented exhaust ports that added another threat and visual layer to the dynamic lightsaber.
13 Tenel Ka Djo's Rancor Tooth Lightsaber
One of the standout characters of Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights, a Legends adult novel series, Tenel Ka Djo not only goes through an awesome journey in the books, but she also has one of the most incredible lightsabers in the franchise. Born into royalty and a member of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy, Tenel Ka is a no-nonsense fighter who has the skills to back it up, and her weapon of choice reflects her attitude and heritage.
While her first attempt at crafting a lightsaber resulted in her losing a limb, Tenel Ka's second version proved to be something special. Using a rancor tooth and rainbow gems, she created a lightsaber that looks stunning and also pays tribute to her upbringing.
12 Dark Rey's Double-Bladed Switchsaber
While it was only briefly seen during a prophetic vision in 2019's Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker that teased a Dark Side-influenced Rey, her new take on the double-bladed lightsaber wowed fans immediately when it was glimpsed in an early trailer for the movie.
Following Rey's brushes with the Dark Side, she was given a glimpse into her possible future if she fell further. This included a switchblade-like lightsaber that spun out into a red double-bladed lightsaber, a weapon that might have made her one of the deadliest Force-users in the Star Wars universe.
11 Palpatine Brings The Gold
There’s a notable high level of craftsmanship in Palpatine’s lightsaber design, one that cements it as one of the best lightsabers in Star Wars. Palpatine’s love of antiquity and power shows through his lightsaber, as it is refined and detailed with unique colors and metals, most strikingly, gold.
To the untrained eye, if one caught glimpse of Palpatine’s weapon, they would merely expect it to be an artifact or an object that reminds Palpatine of Naboo. Not even the Jedi could expect Palpatine’s ways as Darth Sidious until it was too late.
10 Maris Brood’s Unique Twin Lightsabers
Introduced in The Force Unleashed, Maris Brood never made much of a mark on the franchise outside her brief role in Starkiller's journey. What did stand out, however, were Brood's lightsabers.
The hilts of her lightsabers heavily resemble the tonfa, a weapon used in Okinawan martial arts. Brood wields her lightsabers similarly to how tonfa are used in real life. This added a certain characteristic to her fighting style and made what was ultimately a side character all the more memorable.
9 Grand Inquisitor's Double-Bladed Spinsaber
Star Wars: Rebels introduced a new class of Sith warriors known as the Inquisitors, who were tasked with hunting down any surviving Jedi following the devastating Order 66 that cleansed the Galactic Empire.
Their leader was known as the Grand Inquisitor, and he wielded a special double-bladed lightsaber with a special hilt that allowed it to spin as well. This led to the weapon getting the spinsaber nickname while also earning the Inquisitor his "Red Blades" moniker.
8 Asajj Ventress’s Paired Interlocking Splitsabers
The prequel trilogy's Count Dooku was revealed to have his own Sith apprentice named Asajj Ventress in Star Wars: Clone Wars, whose past as a Dathomirian Nightsister prepared her for service with the Sith.
Asajj Ventress wielded dual-paired lightsabers with an interlocking hilt that allowed her to connect them together into a double-bladed splitsaber. This permitted Asajj to hold her own against more powerful Force users, and she also looked insanely cool while doing it.
7 Ahsoka Tano's Curved Hilt White Lightsabers
When Ahsoka Tano first began her apprenticeship under Anakin Skywalker in 2008's Star Wars: The Clone Wars, she trained with a green lightsaber. However, after she left the Jedi Order and struck out on her own, she created her own white-bladed lightsabers to show her neutrality.
Ahsoka Tano utilizes a unique combination of a regular-sized lightsaber as well as the shoto-sized lightsaber used by characters like Yoda and Even Piell. Tano's different-sized dual blades made her an incredibly deadly opponent.
6 Lord Corvax’s Ornate Lightsaber
Lord Corvax's lightsaber might not be the most well-known in the franchise, but its design certainly helps it make its case for being one of the coolest. This saber is more a sign of nobility than an indicator of Jedi peacekeeping and sports a very ancient design that lets it stand out from others.
What really grabs the eye is its unique crossguard. The intricate and decorative design might've been more stylistic than practical, though the lightsaber has other features that make it a technical marvel considering the ear it was constructed.
5 Luke Skywalker's Green Lightsaber
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back saw Luke lose the legendary Skywalker Lightsaber, so the Jedi set out to create something new. In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Luke revealed a green lightsaber inspired by Obi-Wan's final weapon. Utilizing a kyber crystal and a simple but elegant hilt, this lightsaber has a near-perfect design, and the plasma blade's color juxtapositions nicely with Darth Vader's red version.
Like so many things from the original trilogy, this lightsaber is iconic, and it has generally replaced the Skywalker Lightsaber as the weapon most synonymous with Luke. The blade's appearance in The Mandalorian also helped reinforce its legacy.
4 The Unique Mandalorian Darksaber
While there are many one-of-a-kind lightsabers in the Star Wars universe, there is only one with the history and legend of the Darksaber, which was created by the first Mandalorian Jedi named Tarre Vizsla.
The Darksaber became a renowned weapon among the Mandalore and eventually became a binding representation of the group's rulers when it was passed in battle. The Darksaber had a black blade rimmed with white energy that formed a unique sword-like saber blade and was responsive to Force-attuned users.