The Star Wars television series. With the creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni also linked to Star Wars animation, the finale gave a nod to their previous work.
The major easter egg at the end of the series saw the big bad Moff Gideon, survive the crashing of his Tie Fighter by cutting through the destroyed ship with a Darksaber. Here are 10 things that you may not have known about this iconic weapon.
IT HAS A MANDALORIAN CREATOR
The Darksaber was actually created by a Mandalorian. The man in question was Tarre Vizsla. For fans of The Clone Wars, the name Vizsla might actually be familiar, as Favreau himself voiced the character Pre Vizsla, a descendant of Tarre.
Tarre created it as his weapon for combat when he ed the Jedi. He was notably the first-ever Mandalorian to the Jedi order and this was marked by the creation of this unique blade. The saber itself is therefore significant to both the Mandalorians and the Jedi.
ITS LEGACY IS IMPORTANT
The legacy of this weapon is consequently very important. With such a historical origin, it's vital that the blade is preserved. However, the legacy may have been tainted by the many s since its creation.
Not only is it unique because of the design, with a shorter handle and blade-like components, rather than the traditional lightsaber, but also because it is a key part of the Vizsla family. The blade has had its legacy honored by being ed through generations of the Vizslas.
THE ING OF THE WEAPON
Of course, a number of other characters have also wielded this violent weapon. Most recently we have seen it in the hands of Moff Gideon, which was a new reveal for fans, but a number of other notable characters have famously used the Darksaber.
The unique part of the Darksaber is that it can be ed between people through winning combat. Therefore, the blade has a bloody history that saw some of the galaxy's most violent warriors fighting for the right to hold the unique sword.
IT HAS ADVANTAGES IN LEADERSHIP
Of course, there are other major perks that come along with wielding the Darksaber. Due to the storied heritage of the blade, the Darksaber can actually be used to control one of the largest clans in all of Manadalore, who hold their loyalty to the Vizslas.
Because this is one of the largest sections of their society, the blade can essentially be used to gain complete control over the planet and its people. We have seen this throughout the Clone Wars series when Pre Vizsla and his Death Watch wrestled for power.
IT USES KYBER CRYSTALS
Lightsabers are traditionally created using kyber crystals. These crystals are heavily linked to the use of the force and the sourcing of them is often part of the journey of a Jedi. However, the traditional colors of a Jedi are green or blue, with the occasional purple or yellow.
This is, of course, a Darksaber meaning that the color is black with a white glow surrounding the blade. Despite the fact that it looks so different the Darksaber also uses kyber crystals in order to power it, albeit very different ones.
IT CAN TRIGGER AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
Much like a lightsaber, the Darksaber has a strong connection to the force, which is why it is often used by those who can feel this powerful energy in the galaxy. However, it is not exclusively used by force wielders, unlike a lightsaber which is almost always used by Sith or Jedi.
However, the Darksaber's link to the force can actually have physical consequences. The weapon can have an emotional response to its wielder. When the becomes angrier or more violent, the blade can reflect this becoming jagged or more unstable.
THE DUCHESS'S DEATH
Duchess Satine Kryze was the leader of Manadalore for quite some time. However, much like any other change of leadership, there are usually dire consequences when someone looks to usurp a ruler.
Unfortunately for Satine, she is one of the most significant deaths at the hands of a Darksaber wielder. She was caught in the ongoing conflict and impaled on the blade by Darth Maul, the wielder at the time. This marked the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi's most notable love interest.
FAMOUS WIELDERS
A weapon such as this has had a number of important wielders over the years. We've previously mentioned a wide variety including the original creator and his ancestor Pre Vizsla, as well as Moff Gideon and Darth Maul.
Sabine from Star Wars: Rebels has also learned how to use this weapon, although her possession of the Darksaber takes it back to its original days of being a force for good, rather than the evil it has presided over for quite some time.
ITS REPRESENTATION IS REFLECTIVE OF ITS WIELDER
We've noted how the colors of the lightsaber can actually be quite significant to the of the blade. As a Jedi will craft a saber based on their own personality and their emotions, the color will reflect this.
The Darksaber, therefore, represents something quite different from the traditional Jedi. It signifies a grasp for power and a selfishness uncommon amongst the Jedi Order. It also represents someone who doesn't simply want to follow but needs to lead.
THE MANDALORIAN IS ITS LIVE ACTION DEBUT
The history of the Darksaber has been shown within the larger Star Wars universe. We've shown how this blade has revealed itself in the two major animated shows that Lucasfilm has produced, Rebels and The Clone Wars.
However, while there have been mentions and references to this blade in other canonical work, including the novels and comics, there is no sign of the Darksaber in any movie from the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is, therefore, the first live-action appearance of the Darksaber.
