Summary

• Lightsabers have different designs and features tailored to the wielder's combat style, showcasing their personality and skills.
• Some lightsabers have unique functions that make them particularly impressive or historically significant.
• The Skywalker saber, owned by Anakin, Luke, and Rey, is the most famous lightsaber in Star Wars and is considered a legendary artifact carrying the essence of its owners.

The lightsaber is the iconic weapon of Jedi and Sith in Star Wars, and here are the best in the franchise's 46-year history. Introduced by Obi-Wan Kenobi as an elegant weapon for a more civilized time, the lightsaber is the traditional weapon of the galaxy's most famous Force-s. There's actually some evidence the lightsaber predated the Jedi Order, but it nonetheless became associated with the Jedi and the breakaway faction known as the Sith.

Although all these blades follow the same basic principle, there are actually quite a few different types of lightsabers - each adjusted to suit the combat style of their wielder. Not all of these have been seen in the Star Wars movies and TV shows, and indeed others have only been mentioned in Legends and not in canon. Here are the 15 best lightsabers introduced since the first Star Wars movie released in 1977.

These lightsabers have been chosen carefully, based on very specific factors. Every lightsaber is unique, but certain blades demonstrate the personality and skills of their wielders better than most. Others have proved particularly important and historic, or have certain functions that make them deeply impressive.

20 Tera Sinube's Lightsaber Cane

Seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Jedi Master Tera Sinube wielded an unusual lightsaber grafted into his cane - essentially making it multi-purpose. Although this is an unusual design, it became popular among older Order 66 survivors during the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. According to the Star Wars: Force & Destiny sourcebook Unlimited Power, this allowed them to take their lightsabers with them wiithout being spotted. The concealment came at a cost, however; according to the sourcebook, "The awkward size and inconsistent weighting often interferes with use in heated combat."

19 Ezra Bridger's Lightsaber Blaster

Seen in Star Wars Rebels

This is one lightsaber Obi-Wan Kenobi would condemn as being most uncivilized, even if Ezra Bridger did find it pretty effective. The Jedi of the Dark Times often struggled to find the necessary parts to make a lightsaber, and thus many of the designs of that period are unique and individualistic. Ezra's is a perfect case in point, because he blended his lightsaber with a blaster. It meant he could switch between the lightsaber and blaster shots at speed, giving him a remarkable degree of diverse options in combat.

18 Tenel Ka's Rancor Tooth Lightsaber

Seen in Star Wars Legends

Introduced in Star Wars Legends, where she became the lover of Han and Leia's son Jacen, Tenel Ka ruled over a race known as the Hapans. Her lightsaber is notable for its individualism, with the hilt constructed in part from a rancor's tooth, a mark of her heritage. Since then, Star Wars has established that curved hilts like this are also tremendously effective for duels, particularly with the lightsaber form known as Makashi.

17 Vernestra Rwoh's Lightwhip

Seen in Star Wars: The High Republic

Next on the list is a rather unique lightsaber, wielded by Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh in the High Republic Era. The Force prompted Vernestra to make some modifications to her lightsaber, which allow her to switch it into the form of a lightwhip. Although the lightwhip is less effective as a weapon than a traditional lightsaber - the energy is diffused a little - it nonetheless proved especially useful when Vernestra needed to clear a path through a jungle.

16 The Lightsaber Gauntlet

Seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars concept art

Sadly never seen in action, concept art for Star Wars: The Clone Wars shows a unique lightsaber gauntlet wielded by Plo Koon. The look is tremendous, reminiscent of Wolverine, and it would have no doubt given Plo Koon a unique fighting style. Hopefully Star Wars will one day use the lightsaber gauntlet.

15 Lord Corvax's Beautiful Lightsaber

Seen in Vader Immortal

An ancient lightsaber that dates back thousands of years, the blade of Lord Corvax is one of the most ornate ever seen in Star Wars. Known as the Lightsword, it appears to be one of the earliest blades, with an exposed kyber crystal and a tendency of shutting down after it had been used for a while. The Lightsword was tied to ancient Mustafarian technology, part of an intridcate attempt to conquer death itself.

14 Ahsoka Tano's lightsaber pair

Seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Ahsoka

Ahsoka Tano's lightsaber pair deserve a mention in this list. Aware Ahsoka could wind up battling other Force-s, Anakin Skywalker had her traiin with two blades in an aggressive dueling form known as Djem So. Ahsoka took to using two blades, including a shorter shoto blade. This provides better control and offers extra reinforcement from and for attacks. This is the secret of Ahsoka's success taking on powerful Force-s such as Darth Maul.

13 Palpatine's Electrum-Finish Liightsabers

A symbol of Sith supremacy

Every lightsaber says something about the one who created it. Palpatine's lightsabers are constructed from nearly indestructible phrik with an aurodium emitter, finished with electrum. They were statements of his wealth, demonstrating his phenomenal ego, and the phrik meant they would outlive even his enemies. One was retrofitted with a black material that may be obsidian, which channels the dark side.

12 The Inquisitor Lightsaber

Seen in Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, & more

The Imperial Inquisitors are noted for distinctive double blades that can spin at disconcerting speed. These can actually be used as helicopters, enabling brief flight, but they're mostly used for intimidation. Unfortunately, as Ahsoka Tano has proved multiple times, people who aren't intimidated find the rhythmic spinning to be something of a weakness rather than a benefit - Ahsoka has a history of effortlessly beating Inquisitors who begin to spin their blades.

11 The Darksaber

Seen in Star Wars Rebels & The Mandalorian

The ancestral blade of Mandalorian leadership, season 3's finale, so its story is probably over (barring flashbacks).