Lightsabers are the iconic weapons wielded by Jedi and Sith in the Star Wars universe. These high-tech swords emit powerful plasma blades that can cut through virtually anything. While lightsabers come in a variety of colors, the most common and well-known blades are green and blue. There are interesting reasons behind the prevalence of green and blue lightsaber blades, both in-universe and from a filmmaking perspective.
In-Universe Explanations
According to Star Wars lore, the color of a lightsaber’s blade is determined by the kyber crystal used in its construction. Kyber crystals are Force-attuned crystals that focus energy and give lightsabers their power. Here are some key facts about green and blue kyber crystals in the Star Wars canon:
– Natural kyber crystals generally produce blue or green blades when used in a lightsaber. Blue and green are the “default” colors for kyber crystals attuned to the Light Side of the Force.
– Blue crystals are one of the most common colors found occurring naturally in kyber crystal deposits and caves. This rarity makes them a frequent choice for Jedi.
– Green crystals are slightly rarer, but also routinely found in nature. Many Jedi favor green as an alternative to the very common blue.
– Synthetic kyber crystals can produce blades of any color. However, red synthetic crystals are aligned with the Dark Side. Most synthetic crystals are made by Sith or other Dark Siders.
– Jedi cannot use red synthetic crystals, as they are aligned with the Dark Side. So they rely on the naturally occurring blue and green kyber crystals to construct their lightsabers.
– In the prequel era, gathering kyber crystals from Ilum or other crystal caves was an important Jedi ritual and rite of passage. A crystal would “call” to a Jedi through the Force for attunement.
– A green or blue blade does not necessarily indicate a Jedi or Sith wielder. Anyone constructing a lightsaber could use a blue or green kyber crystal if they are able to acquire one, though Jedi have priority access to kyber crystals.
In summary, blue and green are the most common natural kyber crystal colors, and the Jedi rely on naturally occurring crystals to build their lightsabers, giving them access primarily to blue and green crystals. Sith use synthetic crystals to create red blades aligned with the Dark Side. This explains why the heroic Jedi primarily wield more blue and green blades, while the villains wield red.
Filmmaking Reasons
In addition to in-universe explanations, there are also some practical filmmaking reasons that blue and green blades became so iconic in Star Wars:
– **Visual contrast** – The blue and green blades visually pop against the black of space and complement the tan, metallic and black hues of characters’ costumes and most environments. This makes the lightsaber action visually dynamic.
– **Symbolism** – Blue and green represent the Jedi and their ideals. Blue evokes stability, harmony, and spirituality. Green evokes nature, growth, and rejuvenation. Red represents the Sith and their opposing angry, disruptive ideals.
– **Ease of rotoscoping** – The original lightsaber props in 1977’s A New Hope had white blades. Colored blades were rotoscoped in post-production. Blue and green blades layered well through this old-school effects process.
– **Background contrasts** – Blue and green blades stand out clearly against most backgrounds. Red blades could sometimes blend into backgrounds in early films, making action sequences harder to follow.
– **Real-world military symbolism** – Blue and green evoke real-world military symbolism. Blue uniforms represent police and peacekeepers. Green represents infantry and fighters. This subliminally frames the Jedi as galactic peacekeepers and noble warriors.
– **Audience expectations** – After decades of cinema, audiences associate blue and green glowing blades with futuristic high-tech weaponry due to the prevalence of these colors in sci-fi films before Star Wars.
George Lucas made a deliberate choice to use blue and green when introducing the Jedi weapons in the original Star Wars film. This established strong associations and nostalgia for those colors that persist in Star Wars media today.
Notable Lightsaber Colors in Star Wars
While blue and green are the most common lightsaber blade colors, others appear less frequently:
– **Purple** – Used by Mace Windu, a rare Jedi who learned to channel both the Light and Dark sides of the Force. Indicates a balance between two sides of the Force.
– **Yellow** – Favored by Jedi Temple Guards. Also appears in various Expanded Universe stories, often wielded by Jedi who focus more on combat skills.
– **Orange** – Featured in the Expanded Universe and Star Wars Rebels animated series, often used by Jedi who embrace harmony and negotiation.
– **White** – Rare in canon, but used by Ahsoka Tano as she stepped away from the Jedi Order. Indicates spiritual purity and independence.
– **Black** – Only seen in Star Wars video games and the like. Associated with fully falling to the Dark Side of the Force.
– **Rainbow** – Very rare, but some Jedi and Dark Siders learned to change blade colors using special crystals. Indicates mastery of the Force and emotions.
These less common lightsaber colors add some additional variety and symbolism on top of the core blue and green blades that Star Wars has made so iconic.
Notable Green Lightsabers
Some of the most famous green lightsabers wielded by Jedi include:
– **Luke Skywalker** – Luke constructed his first green lightsaber in Return of the Jedi after losing his blue one in The Empire Strikes Back. This new weapon represented Luke coming into his own as a Jedi.
– **Qui-Gon Jinn** – The wise Jedi Master who discovered Anakin Skywalker used a green blade throughout The Phantom Menace.
– **Yoda** – The legendary grandmaster of the Jedi Order used a green lightsaber in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith when forced into combat.
– **Obi-Wan Kenobi** – Obi-Wan constructed a new green lightsaber after losing his old master Qui-Gon’s blue saber to Darth Maul. He used it throughout the Clone Wars era.
– **Kit Fisto** – The alien Jedi Council member wielded a green blade in the prequel trilogy and used it skillfully underwater.
– **Kanan Jarrus** – The Jedi Knight of Star Wars Rebels carried a green lightsaber until passing it down to Ezra Bridger late in the series.
The green lightsabers wielded by these notable Jedi represent the Order’s harmony with the Force and their oft-overlooked combat prowess when forced to fight.
Notable Blue Lightsabers
The blue blade is the original lightsaber color that set the precedent in Star Wars. Famous blue lightsabers include:
– **Anakin Skywalker** – The chosen one carried a blue blade throughout the Clone Wars and as a Jedi Knight until his fall to the Dark Side.
– **Obi-Wan Kenobi** – Obi-Wan’s secondhand blue saber formerly belonged to Qui-Gon Jinn. He used it throughout the prequels and in his final duel with Vader.
– **Luke Skywalker** – Luke’s first lightsaber previously belonged to his father Anakin and was light blue. He lost it when dueling Vader.
– **Mace Windu** – The stoic Jedi Council leader wielded an iconic blue lightsaber in the prequel trilogy until his death at the hands of Palpatine.
– **Leia Organa** – Constructed her own blue lightsaber after learning the ways of the Force in the Legends continuity. It complemented her brother Luke’s green saber.
– **Rey** – Redeemed Anakin’s blue lightsaber formerly wielded by both Luke and Anakin. She used it to defeat Palpatine and the Sith.
The blue blade is passed down across generations of Skywalkers, representing the Jedi Order’s lasting legacy and the power of the light side of the Force.
Conclusion
Green and blue lightsaber blades dominate the Star Wars saga because of symbolic meanings rooted in the Jedi way of life, as well as practical filmmaking reasons. The colors complement one another well and let the Jedi stand out distinctly wielding these iconic weapons. While other lightsaber colors appear occasionally, none are as classic and recognizable as the blue and green kyber crystal blades that have been passed down through generations of Jedi heroes. Their iconic glow evokes the greatest stories of the Jedi and the Force for any Star Wars fan.