The Star Wars universe is full of epic lightsaber battles that decide the galaxy's fate. The galaxy never fails to disappoint as it is full of amazing duellists who wield some of the best lightsabers.

These lightsabers have a rich history and determine a wielder’s journey till the end. It doesn’t matter which side of the force, a lightsaber has significant stature for every force individual.

Ace duelists such as Mace Windu, Master Yoda, Darth Sidious, and Count Dooku, all represent the true values of a lightsaber. Despite their different force affiliations, the Jedi and Sith respect what a lightsaber stands for. 

Amongst these highly renowned characters is Anakin Skywalker. He was one of the best duellists at the time, rivalling the skillset of previous legendary knights. Also known as ‘The Chosen One’, Anakin’s lifespan included some quality duels and confrontations. His prowess with a lightsaber did not stop even when he became Darth Vader.

Read on to learn more about Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber and its evolution into a dark Sith weapon.

Who is Anakin Skywalker?

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Born to a slave mother with no father, Anakin’s birth was nothing short of a miracle. His arrival in the galaxy was earlier predicted by an ancient prophecy, highlighting the emergence of the Chosen One.

The prophecy explained his part in balancing the force and eradicating the Sith. Anakin was first spotted by Master Jinn, who immediately saw the signs, and was fully convinced of the projection’s description. Therefore, after a hard time at his slavery-induced homeworld, Anakin was taken to the Jedi Temple in Coruscant to train as a Jedi.

Despite showing sufficient raw force power, Anakin couldn’t cope with his strengths. In the beginning, he struggled to contain his emotions and was deemed unfit for training by the Jedi leaders. Hence, his training was delayed, depriving him of the chance to become the great Master Jinn’s padawan.

However, he later trained under the watchful eyes of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi who vowed to fulfil the wishes of Master Jinn to unlock Anakin’s potential. In the beginning, Anakin struggled to live up to his title and avoided practising force abilities. Therefore, he lagged in many areas of force, compared to his fellow trainees. However, upon realising his mistake, he committed to mastering many force skills to add to his armoury.

On the way, he befriended Darth Sidious, who was under the disguise of Chancellor Palpatine. The Chosen One was also a much-awaited figure on the dark side and Palpatine wouldn’t certainly miss the chance of luring him to the dark.

On the way to becoming a Jedi, Anakin constructed his first lightsaber, which he frequently used for the light side. He sensed himself as formidable with the weapon, defeating and disarming many opponents. His lightsaber skills eventually earned him a knighthood and later the title of a general. 

Already accustomed to his unique title and skills, Anakin presumed himself entitled. His arrogance was over the moon, ending up as rash decisions, much to the dismay of the Jedi Masters. He was under the constant influence of Palpatine who secretly ensured he was away from the Jedi path.

Despite his troubled thoughts, Anakin stayed with the light side, becoming an influential figure in the Clone Wars. However, the stay did not last long, with Emperor Palpatine’s emergence as Darth Sidious, the Jedi commander switched sides. His betrayal was a blow to the Jedi, diminishing their earlier predictions of Anakin destroying the Sith.

Anakin saw his transformation to Darth Vader who became a headache for the Jedi. One of his most symbolizing acts for the Sith was his role in the Purge of the Jedi. After the enforcement of Order 66, he personally entered the Jedi Temple where he killed many of his former friends, much to the delight of his new master.

He was one of the most important and feared Sith Lords, determined to end the Jedi for good. His many contributions earned him a seat beside Darth Sidious, who employed the Chosen One for his actions. However, the relationship turned sour, and Darth Vader lost trust in his master after failures on the battlefield. His death was redeemed by his heroic act of saving his son Luke, who wanted to bring him back to the Jedi Order. 

About Anakin Skywalker’s Lightsaber

Interestingly, Anakin possessed three lightsabers during his lifespan. These lightsabers reflected his journey from the light to the dark side. From his earliest training days, Anakin took a keen interest in the Jedi connection to a lightsaber. His curiosity and natural talent were key to the construction of his first lightsaber.

While training in the Jedi Order, Anakin like many before him, made the journey to construct his first lightsaber. He travelled to Ilum in search of a kyber crystal that could attune with his force powers. He was always intrigued by the nature of the weapon and wanted to experience its power firsthand. 

After a lengthy wait, he acquired a blue kyber crystal that suited his force energy. After arriving back in Coruscant, he and his fellow peers started creating their lightsabers. Anakin’s first lightsaber had a blue plasma blade with a customised handle. It suited his close-range fighting style due to its unique design and structure. The saber was essential for Anakin’s early development as a Jedi, helping him nourish his duelling abilities.

The lightsaber stayed with him for a while as he defeated multiple opponents. One of these instances was when he overcame the Tusken Raiders, a tribe which kidnapped and killed his mother. He took revenge by eliminating the complete tribe, showing his true skills with the weapon. 

The saber also helped him free Master Kenobi where he took on Count Dooku. However, during the escape, the saber was split in half when Anakin got stuck under heavy machinery.

The Skywalker Saber

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Anakin’s second lightsaber was more prolific compared to the first one. Also known as the Skywalker Lightsaber, the weapon was one of Anakin’s prized possessions. Just like the first edition, the new lightsaber had a blue blade and a custom hilt. The single-bladed saber was perfect for close-range duels, suiting Anakin’s clever duelling tactics.

He first employed it during the Clone Wars and the events that followed. He used the saber against formidable opponents such as Asajj Ventress and Barriss Offee. The weapon, like its wielder, was observed as a symbol of hope for the Jedi but not for long. 

Unfortunately, when Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side, he used the blue lightsaber to start the purge of the Jedi. After the enforcement of Order 66, Anakin showed no mercy as he killed his Jedi inmates and even the younglings in the Jedi Temple.

However, during a fierce battle with his former master, Obi-Wan-Kenobi, he eventually lost the lightsaber. The renowned Jedi Master successfully disarmed him and seized the lightsaber to keep it in his custody. Interestingly, Master Kenobi passed the saber to Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, who was immediately taken to it. 

The saber was later passed onto various wielders like Maz Kanata, Ben Solo, and Rey who eventually buried it as a tribute to the Skywalker line.

Darth Vader’s Lightsaber

After losing his second lightsaber to his previous Master, Darth Vader was determined to make a third one. Sidious ordered him to locate a Jedi's kyber crystal to construct a new lightsaber.

Unfortunately, Jedi Master Kirak Infil’a was tracked by Vader as an ideal target to complete the task set by his new master. After a brief confrontation, Vader killed Kirak and took his green curved lightsaber to Mustafar. Upon arriving in the territory, the Sith Lord bled the crystal, infusing rage and hate into it, and turning it crimson red. 

The new red lightsaber had a new dual-phase feature, allowing Vader to adjust the blade’s length. It further consisted of a ragged handgrip and a slanted emitter shroud. One of the most notable things about the saber was that it always had room for improvement. Vader was constantly upgrading it to adapt to different opponent’s styles. The overall design matched his first lightsaber and the features were mostly the same as the second piece.

As expected, the new red lightsaber did much of the work for its master as Vader used it to end countless Jedi lives. One of Vader’s most popular confrontations with his Sith lightsaber was a duel with his former Master Kenobi.

During the famous duel, Vader finally got the better of the Jedi Master, with his adept skill and prowess. He eventually killed him, proving to be a menace and too much firepower for the legendary Jedi Master.

The lightsaber also had vital contributions during the events of the Galactic Civil War as Darth Vader fought against his son in an interesting confrontation. Luke was determined to redeem his father, even losing his right arm to him in an intense duel, in the process. 

However, after a redeeming death, where he gave his life to save his son against Sidious, Vader’s lightsaber seemed to be lost. It was eventually recovered by a Sith cult group, Acolytes of the Beyond. The members of the cult vowed to destroy the weapon to reunite with its true master after his death.

Final Thoughts

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Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber’s evolution to Darth Vader’s Sith symbol makes up an interesting story. The prophecy stated that the Chosen One was destined to bring balance to the force but he chose a different path as portrayed by his lightsabers.

All three sabers represent a specific part of Anakin’s journey. The transformation and changes in the lightsabers depict how one of the best Jedi knights succumbed to the temptation of the dark side.