Star Wars: All Lightsaber Colors, Ranked By Rarity

Highlights

• Red lightsabers are infamous as the weapon of the Sith, made through a process of “bleeding” the Kyber crystal.
• Blue lightsabers, common for Jedi Guardians, symbolize courage and righteousness, wielded by Obi-Wan and others.
• Green sabers represent wisdom and scholarly refinement, associated with Jedi Consulars like Yoda.

Lightsabers may be one of the most iconic weapons from Star Wars, typically wielded by Force users like the Jedi and Sith. As varied as the Star Wars characters that wield them, they come in a variety of colors, influenced by the crystals that act as a saber’s heart.

The reasons for these colors, along with their rarity, also differ. Some colors are quite typical for Jedi or Sith, while others are seen very rarely. The lore behind these colors can be quite notable too, and they are explained below as readers work through all lightsaber colors in order of their rarity.

Updated April 23, 2024 by Nyah Payne: 2024 is expected to give Star Wars fans plenty of new content to enjoy. The latest Star Wars TV series, The Acolyte, is set to premiere on Disney+ in the summer of 2024. Not long after this, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment are set to release their latest action game, Star Wars Outlaws.

As fans await these new Star Wars stories, they can be sure they’ll see some new lightsabers on the block. In the meantime, these are all the lightsaber colors fans have seen so far.

13 Red

Almost Exclusively Used By Sith

• Notable Users: Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Darth Sidious
• Used By: Sith
• Typically Represents: Villains, Moral Ambiguity

Red lightsabers have an infamous and sinister reputation as the weapon of the Sith. These sabers are made through a process of ‘bleeding’ the Kyber crystal. This process subjugates the crystal to the Force user’s will and is a painful process for both the crystal and the Force user. As such, red sabers aren’t evil themselves, rather the process to make them is an evil one.

Red sabers may be the most common lightsaber, as Sith almost exclusively use red sabers, and the history of Star Wars is filled with Sith. While the vast majority of red saber wielders are villains, some characters can be a little more ambiguous, such as Starkiller from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Revan, who wields one alongside a purple saber, or even Kylo Ren from the sequels. The most well-known wielders, though, are likely to be antagonists like Darth Vadar, Darth Maul, or Darth Sidious.

12 Blue

Common Jedi Sabers Wielded By Guardians

• Notable Users: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Aayla Secura
• Used By: Jedi Guardians
• Typically Represents: Courage, Righteousness

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are the blue lightsabers. These are some of the most common lightsaber colors for the Jedi characters that Star Wars fans know and love. Traditionally, this color of lightsaber was wielded by Jedi Guardians, who were expected to uphold qualities of courage and righteousness.

Perhaps the most well-known blue lightsaber wielder is Obi-Wan, although many others have picked up this kind of saber at some point. This ranges from his apprentice, Anakin, before he went to the Dark Side, along with Plo Koon, and Aayla Secura, who wields one along with a green saber. Luke Skywalker and Rey also used blue lightsabers for a time, and General Grievous had a pair of blue sabers in his collection that he wielded.

11 Green

Wielded By Jedi Consulars

• Notable Users: Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn
• Used By: Jedi Consulars
• Typically Represents: Wisdom, Scholarly Refinement

As with the blue sabers, green is a color typically associated with the Jedi, and quite commonly wielded by them. As blue lightsabers are typically wielded by Jedi Guardians, green sabers are associated with the Jedi Consulars, who are characterized more as scholars than warriors.

They are famed for their wisdom and mental refinement, using the Force primarily as a tool for non-violence. Of course, the many green lightsaber wielders in Star Wars still have some intense battles. The most notable green lightsaber wielder is likely to be Master Yoda, but he is joined by characters from Luke Skywalker to Qui-Gon Jinn, Ahsoka Tano, and Luminara Unduli.

10 Yellow

Rare Jedi Saber Wielded By Sentinels

• Notable Users: Rey Skywalker, Asajj Ventress, Bastila Shan
• Used By: Jedi Sentinels
• Typically Represents: Protectors, Defenders

The third lightsaber color is associated with a particular sect of Jedi, there is a big jump in rarity to the yellow lightsaber. These were typically wielded by Jedi Sentinels, who vowed to protect the Jedi Temple. These particular yellow lightsabers were usually double-bladed.

They are rare within the universe and little is known about them, although they do have some notable wielders. Most high profile is likely to be Rey, the protagonist in the seventh, eighth, and ninth films. They are also wielded by Asajj Ventress and Bastila Shan.

9 Purple

Rare Lightsabers Wielded By Characters Who Balance Dark And Light

• Notable Users: Mace Windu
• Used By: Characters who balance the dark and light side of the force
• Typically Represents: Moral Ambiguity, Balance

Purple lightsabers are rare ones with an amusing bit of trivia surrounding them that any Star Wars fan is bound to know, but also bound to love sharing when they get the chance. For those who aren’t aware, purple lightsabers were never intended to be included.

But purple is the favorite color of Samuel L. Jackson, who played Mace Windu, and he wanted his lightsaber to be purple. Purple is exactly what he got. Since then, purple lightsabers have been associated with characters who walk the line between the dark and light side of the Force, but it was originally just the product of Samuel L. Jackson wanting a purple lightsaber.

8 White

Require Purifying A Red Crystal

• Notable Users: Ahsoka Tano
• Used By: Ahsoka Tano
• Typically Represents: Purity

White lightsabers are extremely unusual within the Star Wars universe, as they require purifying a red crystal. Luckily for her, Ahsoka Tano has two of them. She purified the two red Kyber crystals from Inquisitor Sixth Brother’s dual-bladed saber.

She is the main and only notable white lightsaber wielder. Readers can see her white sabers in action, featuring prominently in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Ahsoka series.

7 Orange

Rare Saber With Mixed Theories

• Notable Users: Cal Kestis, Yaddle
• Used By: Ambiguous
• Typically Represents: Pacifism, Personal Struggle

Due to how rare they are, little is known about orange lightsabers, and they are surrounded by a lot of theories. These vary from them being lightsabers that belong to those who have vowed a life of pacifism, to them being partially purified red crystals or a long-abandoned weapon of the Sith.

An orange lightsaber is wielded by Yaddle but is also associated with Cal Kestis since Jedi: Fallen Order and the game suggests that orange sabers are associated with a wielder who struggles with a personal void. They can also be seen more recently in Jedi: Survivor and Star Wars: Ahsoka. Whatever the truth, orange lightsabers are certainly rare.

6 Magenta

Wielded By Mara Jade And The Scions Of Zakuul

• Notable Users: Mara Jade
• Used By: Scions of Zakuul
• Typically Represents: Destiny

Even less is known about magenta lightsabers, mainly wielded by Mara Jade. Magenta lightsabers are also wielded by the Scions of Zakuul, who are strong believers in destiny. Perhaps this is linked to the magenta or pink lightsaber.

This is definitely not confirmed, though, and magenta lightsabers are rare enough that they are likely to remain a mystery. They are also an option for Cal’s lightsaber color.

5 Cyan & Indigo

Primarily Exist As Customization Options In Jedi: Fallen Order

• Notable Users: Cal Kestis
• Used By: Cal Kestis
• Typically Represents: Unknown

These lightsaber colors are easily mistaken for the regular blue lightsabers, but are classified as their own colors in Jedi: Fallen Order. If they are being taken into consideration, they are some of the rarest lightsaber colors.

Cal Kestis is the only character ever seen to wield them and, due to the nature of the game and its customization, this is completely optional. Given this very specific instance of cyan and indigo lightsabers being encountered, there is little prominent lore surrounding them.

4 The Darksaber

Rare Saber Belonging To The Mandalorian Leader

• Notable Users: Din Djarin, Bo-Katan
• Used By: Mandalorian Leaders
• Typically Represents: Mandalorian Culture

The black lightsaber, or Darksaber to give it its proper name, is one of the rarest lightsabers in Star Wars canon. Despite its rarity in canon, anyone who has seen the second season of The Mandalorian is likely to be familiar with the Darksaber.

The Darksaber is meant to belong to the leader of the Mandalorians and must be won in combat. If it is not, the wielder is destined to lead The Mandalorians to ruin. The Darksaber is a stunning and fascinating saber, tied closely to the fates of Din Djarin, the titular Mandalorian, and Bo-Katan of The Clone Wars.

3 Bronze

Specifically Crafted And Wielded By Lowbacca In Young Jedi Knights

• Notable Users: Lowbacca
• Used By: Lowbacca
• Typically Represents: Lowbacca’s passion for computers

Bronze is one of the least known and rarest lightsaber colors. It is a weapon specifically crafted and wielded by Lowbacca, Chewbacca’s nephew. He was trained by Luke Skywalker and constructed his lightsaber during this training from various computer materials.

Due to its rather niche and having only one creator and wielder, as well as its relative niche source material, Young Jedi Knights, it is a rare lightsaber color in lore and general knowledge.

2 Turquoise

Specifically Crafted And Wielded By Tenel Ka In Young Jedi Knights

• Notable Users: Tenel Ka Djo
• Used By: Tenel Ka Djo
• Typically Represents: Tenel Ka’s heritage

Lowbacca isn’t the only character in Young Jedi Knights to make their own lightsaber with a unique color. Tenel Ka Djo also crafted her lightsaber, although she struggled with the process somewhat, valuing a warrior’s skill over their weapon, with her turquoise lightsaber being her second attempt at the process.

Her turquoise lightsaber is made from a rancor tooth from Dathomir as the hilt and Gallinorean rainbow gems for the crystals, resulting in her unique turquoise color. As with Lowbacca, having only one wielder, and the somewhat obscure source material result in the turquoise blade being a very rare lightsaber color.

1 Gray

Tenel Ka’s Failed First Lightsaber Attempt

• Notable Users: Tenel Ka Djo
• Used By: Tenel Ka Djo
• Typically Represents: Tenel Ka’s heritage

Speaking of Tenel Ka’s struggles with lightsaber crafting, her first lightsaber attempt was also a unique color, although perhaps not as eye-catching as her second attempt. Her first attempt also made use of a rancor tooth for the hilt, but it was a little too small for her crystal arrangement. On top of this, she used lava crystals that she later found to be flawed, which resulted in the unique gray color of her first saber.

Tenel Ka believed her martial prowess could overcome a subpar weapon, but paid the price in a sparring session with Jacen Solo, in which her lightsaber shattered and she lost her arm. While it didn’t slow her down, her initial failed attempt at a lightsaber did create perhaps the rarest lightsaber color, if it can be counted as a failed lightsaber.