The Star Wars franchise has become well-known among fans for a number of reasons, from epic space battles to powerful battles between Jedi and Sith warriors and their mastery of the Force. Sith and Jedi also use deadly weapons known as lightsabers that have become iconic pieces of Star Wars mythology.
Lightsabers have been created and wielded by Jedi and Sith for generations and can be as unique as the warriors who wield them, with some standing out among the rest for their interesting designs, capabilities, and legendary appearances in the franchise that we'll be taking a closer look at today with a dive into some of the coolest lightsabers in a galaxy far, far away.
Updated March 27, 2023, by Jake Fillery: Whether it’s the iconic ‘swooshing’ sounds of the lightsaber or the stellar designs of some of the individual lightsaber hilts, there is no weapon more elegant for a civilized age, and truthfully, no weapon as iconic and cool in the Star Wars mythos. Lightsabers are known throughout the world, to audiences that haven’t even seen Star Wars. Due to the iconic franchise having been around for decades and the sheer volume of movies, shows, and video games that have been released during that period, there are plenty of cool examples, but the very best lightsabers in Star Wars find ways to set themselves apart.
23 Tera Sinube's Cane Lightsaber
Perhaps "cool" is not the right adjective to describe Tera Sinube's versatile lightsaber, but it is unique and tailor-made to suit the Jedi Master's needs. For the most part, Sinube uses this item as an aid to help him get around, keeping the saber out of sight and out of mind.
If a situation turns dire and calls the experienced Jedi into action, he only needs to remove the shaft from the collar to unleash his kyber crystal blade. The cane can lull enemies into a false sense of security since it makes Sinube seem vulnerable, and the Jedi can also duel wield the lightsaber and cane.
22 Ezra Bridger's Pistol-Hilted Lightsaber
Star Wars Rebels introduced fans to young Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger as he joined the crew of the Ghost and began to train in the use of his Force abilities, which eventually led to the creation of his first lightsaber using spare parts provided by his fellow Rebels.
Ezra created an entirely unique pistol-hilted lightsaber that featured a blue blade and also functioned as a blaster, though it was destroyed in battle with Darth Vader, which forced Ezra to create a more conventional green-bladed lightsaber.
21 Yoda Proves That Size Matters Not
The best lightsaber designs in Star Wars may not need to be the largest, as Yoda’s lightsaber perfectly fits his small green hands. What’s most interesting about Yoda’s lightsaber is the fact that it is more of a shoto blade, as the hilt and the blade are far smaller than the average lightsaber.
Once again, despite appearances, Yoda proves that size doesn’t matter and that the Force is the greatest ally of a Jedi. Yoda has one of the coolest lightsabers in Star Wars, and the fact that it was seen once again in The Book of Boba Fett, is a potential gift to Grogu.
20 Dooku’s Curved Lightsaber
Dooku served as the figurehead for the Clone Wars, establishing himself as a powerful Sith Lord and savvy politician throughout the conflict. He might've only been a stopgap to Palpatine, but Dooku's ability in combat came through in every battle he was featured in.
Dooku's curved lightsaber was one that stood out from most other Jedi during his time with the order. Aside from the unique design, Dooku's saber was one that allowed him to better capitalize on his fighting style. When he joined the Sith, Dooku kept the saber, swapping out its kyber crystal for a much more suitable red one.
19 Obi-Wan Kenobi's Thin-Necked Lightsaber
Over the years, Obi-Wan Kenobi has gone through quite a trauma, and his lightsaber has been present for all of it. It’s somewhat unique when compared to other lightsabers due to its thin-neck design. This elegant weapon works perfectly for the personality of someone with Obi-Wan’s talent and sass.
It’s definitely one of the coolest lightsaber hilts in Star Wars, not to mention one of the most iconic. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber even inspired Luke Skywalker further down the line, adding yet another to the coolest Star Wars Lightsabers.
18 Darth Vader's Iconic Red Sith Lightsaber
The original villain of the Star Wars franchise was Darth Vader, who had an intimidating presence in the original trilogy both due to his dark armored form as well as his blood-red Sith lightsaber that contrasted the blue and green lightsabers of the Jedi.
The activation of Darth Vader's red lightsaber has become an iconic moment in Star Wars that has appeared to great effect in movies like Rogue Omne: A Star Wars Story and video games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to make it one of the coolest and most unforgettable lightsabers in the Star Wars universe.
17 Revan’s Versatile Lightsaber
With Knights of the Old Republic set to get a remake, bringing up Revan's lightsaber seems appropriate. Revan had a massive presence within the old EU but has yet to make a similar mark in the current cannon. The remake could very well change a lot from the original, so fans might have something completely different in mind going forward when thinking of Revan's saber.
Revan used a variety of lightsabers, with the most notable being the ones he used during his time as a Sith and later after his redemption. This is the latter saber, which Revan made use of throughout his journeys in the EU canon.
16 Mace Windu's Purple-Bladed Lightsaber
While Jedi had previously only wielded two colors of lightsabers, that all changed when Samuel L. Jackson joined the cast of the prequel trilogy as Mace Windu, which led to the introduction of Windu's purple-bladed lightsaber in 2002's Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
Windu's unique electrum-plated amethyst lightsaber distinguished the skilled Jedi warrior from even his other fellow Jedi Council members and was clearly visible on the battlefield, further separating it from some of the other lightsabers that have appeared across the franchise.
15 Qui-Gon Jinn, Simple Yet Elegant
Although Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber hilt may seem rather simplistic and bulky, it further shows the detachment that Qui-Gon has from the materialistic world. A lightsaber is a weapon, an elegant means of protection, and Qui-Gon utilizes that well with mastery and wisdom.
The design of Qui-Gon’s lightsaber might not sell itself as one of the best-looking lightsabers for its simplicity, but it doesn't stop it from being distinct. The immediate eye-grabber is the big red button to turn on the blade, as well as the consistent sized hilt for comfort.
14 Kylo Ren's Unstable Crossguard Lightsaber
Star Wars' cinematic sequel trilogy launched in 2015 with Episode VII: The Force Awakens and continued the Skywalker Saga by introducing new legacy characters like the corrupted Ben Solo, who followed in his grandfather Darth Vader's footsteps as the masked Sith Kylo Ren.
Kylo Ren instantly drew the attention of fans with the debut of his crossguard lightsaber, which featured an unstable red blade generated by a cracked Kyber crystal that featured dual vented exhaust ports that added another threat and visual layer to the dynamic lightsaber.