In Kylo Ren was a formidable antagonist who wielded a unique lightsaber with a cross-guard hilt that set him apart from any Jedi or Sith who had come before him. But Kylo isn’t the only character with a badass laser sword in Star Wars continuity because in Star Wars: Legacy comic canon, a Sith exists with an equally as wild lightsaber design as Kylo's, one that makes him one of the deadliest villains to ever fall to the dark side.

An iconic Star Wars weapon that comes in many shapes, sizes, and configurations — like Ahsoka’s dueling shoto blade, Dark Rey’s switchblade saber, Ezra Bridger’s hybrid gun sword, and Darth Maul’s dual-bladed weapon — the lightsaber is an offensive tool that turns anyone wielding it into a far more effective combatant practically by default.

In Star Wars: Legacy, a now non-canon Star Wars Legends series, a Sith named Darth Nihl uses a lightsaber that rivals Kylo Ren’s in of its design with a long-handled, single-bladed look that’s as badass as it is unique, especially in the hands of this comic-exclusive character.

Star Wars: Legacy’s Darth Nihl Uses a Long-Handled Lightsaber That Rivals Kylo Ren’s Weapon

Darth Nihl’s Lightsaber Is Single-Bladed

Wowing fans in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens as the latest addition to official lightsaber lore, Kylo Ren’s cross-guard design originated as a rarely used element in Star Wars Legends comics but has recently been traced back to the High Republic, where the style was a far more popular option when creating the era’s ornately designed lightsabers. Sprouting three wildly unstable energy blades from the top and sides of his saber’s hilt due to the damaged Kyber crystal Kylo uses as the weapon’s energy source, this lightsaber became synonymous with the character within moments of its flashy debut.

Conversely, Darth Nihl's lightsaber is a long-handled weapon with a looped hilt and textured design that not only looks cool in his hands but is a sight to behold in action thanks to Nihl being a particularly respected duelist in Legacy continuity. Apprentice to the Sith overlord Darth Krayt, who himself once employed a unique dual-wielding stance, Nihl’s long-handled lightsaber isn’t a design commonly used by other Jedi and Sith in Star Wars continuity, current canon or otherwise, with any reservations when seeing a lightsaber with an almost comically long hilt instantly being dashed after witnessing Nihl in his element.

Darth Nihl Makes Long-Handled Lightsabers a Credible Threat in His Capable Sith Hands

Darth Nihl Kills Multiple Jedi Using This Saber

Infamously using his lightsaber to murder Kol Skywalker, the father of Legacy’s main protagonist Cade Skywalker, as well as Cade’s Jedi mentor, Master Wolf Sazen, Darth Nihl expertly wields his weapon throughout Legacy with precision and balanced rage, consistently proving himself as a master of his craft. Housing a Sith-red blade that’s almost half the size of the long grip that Nihl needs two hands to effectively wield, this lightsaber design was relatively rare in Star Wars before Legacy, making its uniqueness a signature part of Nihl’s character who defined how the blade was initially used and perceived by fans.

Star Wars: Legacy ran for 50 issues from 2006 to 2020.

What’s cool about this lightsaber design is that it allows Darth Nihl more control over his blade when overextending or swinging it around his body, with its long hilt doubling as an effective guard against any non-lightsaber melee attack Nihl may need to defend against. ittedly, one downside of this saber style is that it’d be far easier for Nihl’s opponents to trip him up in tight spaces, with the length of its hilt potentially making it harder to maneuver at close range, to say nothing about how the handle would be an easy target for destruction in a duel.

Kylo Ren’s Cross-Guard Lightsaber and Darth Nihl’s Long-Handled Weapon Design Are Unique to Their Characters

Star Wars: Legacy Is a Star Wars Legends Story

At first glance, Kylo Ren’s cross-guard style might seem like the more useful weapon compared to Darth Nihl’s, as it can easily be used like a traditional sword. Yet there’s something about the confidence and effectiveness Nihl has in his unconventional blade, along with the unwillingness of others to take the time to master it, that makes his style more intriguing. But what good is a specialized blade if its can’t wield it properly, so until there’s a definitive live-action battle or in-continuity duel between enemies using these differing designs, fans can only speculate which is the better option.

It remains to be seen if Darth Nihl’s lightsaber will make its canon debut in any Star Wars film, television, or comic book projects (the Star Wars: Jedi Survivor video game has a similar-looking lightsaber stance that mixes a longish-handled blade with a cross-guard hilt), but if Star Wars: Legacy’s depiction of the weapon is to be believed, it’d fit right into “main” continuity regardless of where it officially premieres. Kylo Ren’s unique cross-guard design was a worthy addition to Star Wars lore, with Darth Nihl’s long-handled blade changing the lightsaber game well beforehand in the world of comics.

Star Wars: Legacy is available from Dark Horse/Marvel Comics.