While most lightsabers in Star Wars follow a similar cylindrical design, there are plenty of characters who modified and altered their saber hilts to be truly unique. Both Canon and Legends feature dozens of different hilt designs. And some of the most unique sabers in Star Wars feature small additions to the hilt that add another laser, or are made of a unique material not seen in other hilts.

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17 Count Dooku’s Curved Lightsaber

First appearance: Attack of the Clones

Count Dooku’s curved lightsaber is simple, but elegant, featuring a slight difference to the traditional straight design of most hilts. The difference in the hilt marries perfectly with Dooku's lightsaber fighting form, allowing him to wield the saber with finesse. And while plenty of other Jedi and Sith have utilized curved lightsabers, Count Dooku was one of the first on-screen to introduce and popularize the design.

16 Maris Brood’s Tonfa Lightsabers

First appearance: The Force Unleashed Novel

Technically speaking, tonfa lightsabers—also known as guard shoto—are still Canon in Star Wars due to a few guide books mentioning them. But Maris Brood from The Force Unleashed novel and video game was one of the first in Star Wars Legends to popularize this unique saber hilt. Tonfa lightsabers feature an extra handle sticking out the side of a traditional hilt, allowing the to grip the saber uniquely and maximize their defense.

15 Gungi’s Wooden Lightsaber

First appearance: The Clone Wars

While Gungi’s lightsaber looks almost identical to a standard lightsaber, the material used for it is far from ordinary. According to Huyang the lightsaber professor, Gungi’s choice of using Brylark wood in the construction of his hilt—though not unheard of—differed greatly from the standard choice of metal and alloy. And while other Jedi Padawans fell during Order 66, The Bad Batch season 2 shows Gungi continuing to use his unique lightsaber well into the Imperial Era.

14 Kylo Ren’s Unstable Crossguard Lightsaber

First appearance: The Force Awakens

Kylo Ren’s unstable crossguard has a unique hilt for several reasons. For one thing, he was the first character in Star Wars’ Canon to popularize the crossguard design. His cracked kyber crystal also adds instability to his blade, a feature few other lightsabers have. Additionally, the hilt of his saber differs from the traditional refined design, as some of the wiring is outside the hilt instead of inside.

13 Darth Maul’s Double-Bladed Lightsaber

First appearance: The Phantom Menace

Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber has become a popular option for both Jedi and Sith alike, but it was he who first showcased the design back in The Phantom Menace. Technically, Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber is just two simplistic regular lightsabers welded together. Yet the extra blade allowed him to fight with a completely different style, one that even overpowered Qui-Gon Jinn.

12 Ezra Bridger’s Lightsaber Blaster

First appearance: Rebels

Ezra Bridger’s lightsaber-blaster combo almost seems to mock Obi-Wan Kenobi’s disapproving view of blasters in Star Wars by marrying one with a saber. Bridger did not have the luxury of training in peace due to the Empire constantly chasing him and the Ghost Crew, causing him to include a stunning blaster in the design of hilt for when his lightsaber fighting skills inevitably failed him.

11 Inquisitor Lightsaber

First appearance: Rebels

Almost every Imperial Inquisitor lightsaber featured a similar double-bladed design to Darth Maul’s lightsaber, but with a simple twist. The central handle of the hilt allowed both blades to spin around rapidly. While the Inquisitors used this feature to intimidate and bully many of the galaxy’s average citizens, it was often merely for show; most seasoned Jedi left after Order 66 knew how to combat their flashy moves.

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10 Rey’s Switchblade Lightsaber

First appearance: The Rise of Skywalker

Technically, Rey’s unstable switchblade lightsaber was merely a hypothetical blade created by a vision from the Force. And while Jedi General Pong Krell was the first to wield a hinged double-bladed lightsaber in The Clone Wars, Rey’s Sith switchblade improved on the intimidating design. Despite only being a brief vision, Rey’s switchblade would be a formidable weapon if she ever actually turned to the dark side.

9 Tenel Ka Djo’s Rancor Tooth Lightsaber

First appearance: Young Jedi Knights

Tenel Ka Djo is a character who has faded into the obscurity of Star Wars Legends, but her first lightsaber remains as one of the coolest in the galaxy. Tenel Ka was a member of Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order. Instead of using traditional metal or even the less-common wood for her hilt, Tenel Ka used an enormous tooth from a rancor as the hilt of her saber. And as if that wasn’t cool enough, she also carved battle etchings into it.

8 Darth Malgus’ Lightsaber Axe

First appearance: The Old Republic - Deceived trailer

At first, it may seem silly to add actual blades to the hilt of a lightsaber. But Darth Malgus’ axe hilt remains one of the most vicious designs for a lightsaber in Star Wars. The axe head on the end of his hilt was not merely decoration, as it added a fair amount of weight to the end of his saber. His weighty swings often blew his opponents’ lightsabers out of their hands as he beat them down with sheer force.