Darth Vader was the greatest villain of Star Wars, tasked to hunt down the last of the Jedi, and he improved his lightsaber to make himself even more deadly. He may have become famous for his piloting skills, but Anakin Skywalker’s Force powers seem to have first manifested in an intuitive understanding of technology. He built C-3PO when he was just a child, and continued developing his skills over the years, even if he wasn’t always encouraged to do so by the Jedi Order. This skill made him a particularly dangerous Sith Lord.
The Star Wars: Force & Destiny sourcebook Gadgets & Gear reveals Darth Vader used his skills to improve his lightsaber, making it a unique weapon.
“Darth Vader’s lightsaber is of a gleaming alloy construction with a black carbon composite grib and a red energy blade. Vader is constantly fine-tuning and upgrading his lightsaber for maximum blade power and stability. His latest upgrade includes a dual-phase modification, which lets him alter the length of his lightsaber blade by switching between two kyber crystals, potentially catching opponents off-guard.”
How Darth Vader’s Dual-Phase Lightsaber Worked
There are many different types of lightsaber, but the dual-phase is arguably one of the most dangerous. Such a blade possesses two kyber crystals; Darth Vader cycles between these crystals at the flick of a switch. Each crystal generates a blade with slightly different properties; in this case, one of the blades was longer than the other, allowing Darth Vader to take his enemies by surprise. It’s worth noting that switching between the crystals would interrupt the current of power flowing through a lightsaber, meaning it deactivated for a fraction of a second, so Darth Vader would need to choose his moment carefully, so he did not leave himself vulnerable while using the weapon.
The differing lengths would mean Darth Vader would need to truly master his lightsaber combat form. Most Jedi and Sith become proficient with a single blade with specific properties, but Darth Vader would want to be able to use each phase with the same amount of skill. The Sith Lord preferred Djem So, a form that specializes in solid blocks, parries, stronger counterattacks, and ripostes, and he used the weight of his armor to make his attacks particularly forceful.
Darth Vader’s Dual-Phase Lightsaber Made Him The Perfect Jedi Hunter
Darth Vader’s dual-phase lightsaber really did make him the perfect Jedi hunter. Duels tend to involve a series of blocks and parries, in which the two combatants get a sense of one another’s form and style. The dual-phase lightsaber means Vader would be able to switch things up unexpectedly, with his blade either growing or even shrinking. Some of the Jedi who survived Order 66 surely did so because of their skill, so Vader would probably need this advantage in some duels. Meanwhile, it’s interesting to note the sourcebook also points out that Darth Vader was continually improving his blade’s power and stability, which would mean his lightsaber was more reliable than most – and could be used more effectively when pressing against an enemy’s blade. This remarkable dual-phase lightsaber truly does prove that Vader was the greatest threat to the Jedi in Star Wars‘ Dark Times.
