Double-bladed lightsabers are rare and deadly lightsaber variants in the Star Wars franchise, with numerous Jedi and Sith using them in both the original Legends and modern canon Star Wars continuities. The iconic standard lightsaber is the ancient signature weapon of the Jedi, and while their ancient enemies – the Sith – are a separate faction, the first Sith Lords were former Jedi who fell to the dark side. The Sith have their own distinct culture from the Jedi and, fittingly, use their own lightsabers, which typically use red blades.
There are many different lightsaber types, ranging from the curved lightsaber used by Count Dooku to the lightwhip, recently brought into live-action in The Acolyte. The double-bladed lightsaber (also known as a saberstaff) is simply a lightsaber that produces blades from both ends. These weapons are used by a multitude of Jedi and Sith in both the canon and Legends timelines.
Different types of double-bladed lightsaber
Standard double-bladed lightsaber
A simple double-bladed lightsaber, like the one used by Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Splitsaber
A double-bladed lightsaber with a hilt that can be pulled apart, turning it into two blades
Switchblade
A double-bladed lightsaber with a hinge, meaning the two blades can be held parallel - like the one used by Dark Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Inquisitors' lightsaber
An unusual variant of the double-bladed lightsaber, which can even be used as a sort of helicopter blade
31 Darth Maul
The most famous user of a double-bladed lightsaber is Darth Maul, who gave the weapon its live-action debut in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The Legends continuity revealed the origin of Maul’s weapon during his ascension to Sith Lordship; he came across ancient records of the Sith, and was inspired to follow their design. The modern canon – which saw Maul survive his bisection – would arm him with a new saberstaff which could be disguised as a cane, as seen in Star Wars Rebels.
30 Exar Kun
Exar Kun is an ancient Sith Lord who debuted in Legends-exclusive comics. Kun is the earliest known user of the double-bladed lightsaber in the Star Wars franchise, having constructed his weapon using an ancient Sith design. Kun’s weapon is atypical, with a standard-length hilt and two blue blades instead of the traditional Sith red. Exar Kun – and his saberstaff – exist in the modern canon as well, with few known details about him.
29 Satele Shan
Introduced in Star Wars: The Old Republic, Jedi Grandmaster Satele Shan is shown using five different lightsabers throughout her appearances in the Star Wars Legends continuity. Four of the five weapons are double-bladed lightsabers, and two of the four were destroyed in combat with the Sith. While Shan is primarily a saberstaff user, she has been known to use a standard lightsaber and a single-bladed sparring lightsaber.
28 Bastila Shan
Bastila Shan is a Jedi Master, a main character in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and an ancestor of Jedi Grandmaster Satele Shan. Like Darth Maul, Bastila Shan initially used a standard single-bladed lightsaber but eventually modified the weapon into a saberstaff. During her brief turn to the dark side, Shan switched her weapon’s yellow lightsaber crystals for red ones but restored the weapon’s original gems upon purging herself of the dark side’s corruption.
27 Komari Vosa
Once the padawan of Count Dooku, Komari Vosa fell to the dark side after being captured and tortured by the cult known as the Bando Gora. After her mind snapped, Vosa became the new leader of the Bando Gora and used a pair of curved-hilt lightsabers with red blades. While Vosa is never shown using this feature, the lightsabers could be connected at the pommels, turning them into a saberstaff.
26 Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress appears in both the original Legends continuity and the modern canon, with each timeline giving her a different background and history. One thing that both iterations have in common, however, is that she uses two red-bladed lightsabers; in Legends, they once belonged to Komari Vosa. Unlike Vosa, Ventress is occasionally shown using her two lightsabers as a double-bladed lightsaber.
25 Jaro Tapal
Canon
Jedi Master Jaro Tapal’s lightsaber is a blue-bladed saberstaff, as shown in the modern canon’s Jedi: Fallen Order. During Order 66, Tapal’s weapon would be blasted in half by a high-powered blaster bolt. Cal Kestis would carry the bisected weapon for years and eventually repair its other half, restoring it to a double-bladed lightsaber.
24 Cal Kestis
Canon
Even after Cal Kestis repaired his master’s weapon, it would later be destroyed again, forcing Kal to travel to Ilum to find a new Kyber crystal. Kal not only bonded with one gem, turning it blue, but he also constructed a new lightsaber, combining pieces of Jaro Tapal’s weapon with that of Cere Junda’s. As shown in both Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor, Cal Kestis’s new weapon was highly customizable, and could function as a saberstaff or other lightsaber variants.
23 Pong Krell
Canon
The traitorous and loathsome Jedi Master Pong Krell was a short-lived yet impactful antagonist in the modern canon’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Taking advantage of his size, strength, and four arms, Krell wielded two hinged double-bladed lightsabers with lethal skill. Tragically, he would most famously use his weapons to murder clone troopers during the Battle of Umbara.
22 Imperial Inquisitors
Canon
While Imperial Inquisitors exist in both the Legends and modern canon timelines, the latter continuity gives them a far more prominent role, along with more uniform armor and weapons. The standard weapon of the modern canon’s Imperial Inquisitors are distinctive red-bladed double-sided lightsabers, whose blades can spin. While not the most practical feature, the spinning blades gave Inquisitors a highly intimidating presence.
21 Rey Palpatine
Canon
Rey imagines herself embracing the dark side and becoming the heir to her grandfather, Palpatine, in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. In this vision, Rey sees herself wielding a red double-bladed lightsaber with a folding hilt. The blades of the weapon are unstable like those of Kylo Ren’s crossguard lightsaber, perhaps indicating Rey’s unfamiliarity with most red-bladed lightsabers.
20 Jedi Brutes
Large and physically powerful Jedi Guardians who served within the Jedi Temple Security Force were known as Jedi brutes. These Legends-exclusive Jedi were typically armed with double-bladed lightsabers with a pair of either blue or green blades. Despite their strength, Darth Vader and the mind-controlled clone troopers of the 501st slew numerous Jedi brutes in the Jedi Temple during Order 66.
19 Jastus Farr
Appearing in the Star Wars: Purge comics, Jastus Farr was a Jedi Master and Jedi brute who somehow survived the initial stages of Order 66 – perhaps by not being in the Temple during Vader’s attack. Like all other Jedi brutes, Farr used a double-bladed lightsaber, with his weapon noted for its green blades. Farr was formidable enough to challenge Darth Vader himself, but he was cut down by blasterfire from clone troopers – who were brainwashed into serving the Empire.
18 Darth Zannah
One of the most unique double-bladed lightsabers in the Star Wars franchise is the signature weapon of Darth Zannah in the Legends continuity. The lightsaber is named Bane’s Heart, and its red blades are unusually short – having been tailored for Zannah’s preference for the defensive lightsaber form Soresu. The weapon was also rigged to electrocute anyone who attempted to use it other than Darth Zannah herself.
17 Darth Phobos
The ancient Theelin Sith Lord Darth Phobos specialized in not only mental manipulation via the dark side of the Force but also lightsaber combat with her red-bladed saberstaff. It is unknown what became of Darth Phobos’s lightsaber, but she died sometime before the New Sith Wars. An apparition of Phobos – and her double-bladed lightsaber – appear in 2008’s Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
16 Savage Opress
Canon
Savage Opress was a member of the modern canon’s Nightbrothers (a clan of Dathomirians) and a sibling of Darth Maul’s. Upon joining the Separatist Alliance, Opress underwent formal Sith training and constructed a massive double-bladed lightsaber to replace his enchanted Nightsister polearm. The lightsaber, notably, emitted an animalistic growl-like sound when its red blades ignited.
15 Jorak Uln
The sadistic and mentally unstable Sith Jorak Uln was once the headmaster of the Sith Academy on Korriban during the Jedi Civil War. He was eventually usurped by his student, Uthar Wynn, leaving Uln to seclude himself in the Tomb of Tulak Hord, where he would capture Sith students and force them to participate in deadly “lessons.” Uln was, unsurprisingly, a skilled duelist, using a reb-bladed saberstaff in combat.
14 Uthar Wynn
Uthar Wynn was the Sith apprentice of the dreaded Jorak Uln, but he eventually battled and defeated his master, sparing him yet taking his place as headmaster of Korriban’s Sith Academy. Like Uln, Wynn was an extremely powerful Sith who skillfully wielded a double-bladed lightsaber. In a battle with his Sith apprentice – Yuthura Ban – and a redeemed Darth Revan, Wynn was slain within the Tomb of Naga Sadow.
13 Zez-Kai Ell
The introspective Jedi Master and High Council member Zez-Kai Ell is exclusive to the original Legends continuity, having debuted in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Ell is largely defined by his criticisms of the Jedi Order for their actions during the Jedi Civil War, but he is also a highly adept warrior who employed four different lightsaber combat forms. Ell’s weapon of choice was a double-bladed lightsaber with purple blades.
12 Jaesa Willsaam
Once a humble handmaiden of House Organa of Alderaan, Jaesa Willsaam became a Jedi when the Order discovered her incredible connection to the Force. Willsaam has the uncanny ability to see one’s true nature and her lightsaber skills are nearly as formidable. As both a Jedi and, later, a Sith, Jaesa Willsaam wields a double-bladed lightsaber.
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