Summary

• Luke Skywalker's unique lightsaber philosophy in Star Wars was inspired by his duel with Yoda.
• Luke is willing to discard his lightsaber for a greater victory, unlike older Jedi, who are much more protective over their lightsabers.
• The variety of lightsabers Luke wields shows he doesn't hold them in the same regard as older Jedi, seeing them as mere tools as opposed to a part of him.

When compared to other Jedi in Yoda. During that fight, Luke used his lightsaber in a way that shocked even the great Master Jedi, and he did it without being taught or coached. And now, it seems clear that one move was the beginning of Luke’s entire lightsaber philosophy.

In the Legends story Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes by Tom Taylor and Daxiong, Luke is training with Yoda on Dagobah. To strengthen the young Padawan’s connection to the Force and skills with the lightsaber, Yoda comes up with a perfect mission for the two of them to go on together: steal the treasure of the Dragonsnakes. During the mission, Yoda and Luke take refuge in a safe area of the swamp, at which point Yoda decides that some hands-on lightsaber training is in order.

Luke wields his original blue lightsaber while Yoda uses only his walking stick, yet the seasoned Jedi Master is easily able to best Luke. Yoda tells his Padawan to use more than just his lightsaber to fight, but to reach out with the Force, and use everything he can at his disposal. So, heeding Yoda’s words, Luke throws his lightsaber at Yoda, which genuinely surprises the Master Jedi, and all but secures Luke the victory in their lightsaber duel.

Luke Skywalker is More Willing to Let Go of His Lightsaber than the Jedi of Old

Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber duel with Yoda confirms that he sees his lightsaber as just one of the many tools at his disposal while battling an opponent, as opposed to an extension of himself that must be guarded and kept close. Indeed, the way the Jedi of old saw their lightsabers was perfectly articulated by Anakin Skywalker in Episode II, when he lost his lightsaber on Genosha and commented that Obi-Wan was ‘going to kill him’. However, as shown in this comic and a number of Star Wars stories since, Luke Skywalker does not hold that same value.

If the situation calls for it, Luke will gladly discard his lightsaber if it means achieving a greater victory. Luke not only proved that in this issue, but also in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars #28, when he willingly surrendered his lightsaber for the sake of maintaining his cover during a covert-ops mission. Luke understands that a lightsaber is simply a tool, and if discarding it is the best way it can be utilized, then Luke won’t think twice about doing so, which is in stark contrast to the older generation of Jedi, who always kept their lightsabers safe and close.

Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber Philosophy is Confirmed by the Variety of ‘Sabers He Wields

During the days of the Jedi Order, a Jedi would choose their kyber crystal as a youngling, and then design a unique hilt based on who they are as a person, and that becomes their lightsaber for life. Luke, however, did not experience this rite of age, meaning the significance of a single lightsaber was lost on him. This is shown by the variety of lightsabers he wields, as Luke begins his career with his father’s blue lightsaber, before wielding a yellow lightsaber for a time, and then finally getting his iconic green lightsaber.

It’s no wonder Luke doesn’t hold lightsabers in the same regard as earlier Jedi, he didn’t find his permanent one until he was practically a master, and at that point, he had already wielded two separate ones beforehand. And with every lightsaber, Luke Skywalker only ever saw them as just one of the many tools he had at his disposal during any given conflict, allowing him to easily let it go if he needed to - a philosophy that was seemingly inspired by his first Star Wars duel with Yoda.