What is the Darksaber in Star Wars? You can't have a war without weapons, and we're here to look at one of the coolest, most iconic weapons from the whole franchise.
While everyone is familiar with the lightsabers wielded by Jedi and Sith across the various Star Wars movies and Star Wars series, far less know about the Darksaber. However, if you're patiently waiting for The Mandalorian season 3 release date, you're going to need to get to grips with this mythical Star Wars weapon.
So what is the Darksaber? How is it different to any other lightsaber? And who has used this weapon before? Let's take a look.
What is the Darksaber?
The Darksaber was an ancient weapon created by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order, and it was a black-bladed lightsaber.
The unique lightsaber was held in the Jedi Temple after Vizsla's passing but was stolen back by the Mandalore people during a battle with the Jedi around the time of the fall of the Old Republic.
Like any lightsaber, the Darksaber uses a crystal to harness the power of the Force. However, there are differences between the two weapons.
What's the difference between the Darksaber and a lightsaber?
The Darksaber looked different from other lightsabers due to its black blade, and it also acted differently too, because it had a stronger connection to its user.
The blade of the Darksaber was shorter than regular lightsabers and was shaped more like a traditional sword with a tapered blade. It comes with an angular pommel, hand guard, and slit-shaped blade emitter, and these were all made of Beskar, a highly-powerful material typically used by the Mandalore people.
The Darksaber had a higher-pitched sound than a standard lightsaber, more akin to a screech than the hum we usually associate with the weapons. While lightsabers are always attuned to their user, the Darksaber actually reacted to emotions and thoughts and could even change how heavy it is depending on how well connected it was to those wielding it.
It's also worth noting that someone could only possess the Darksaber by defeating the one who already held it in combat. That's why anyone who simply stole the Darksaber was unable to forge a suitable connection with the weapon.
Was the Darksaber destroyed?
Yes, the Darksaber was crushed by Moff Gideon during the events of The Mandalorian season 3 finale. Thankfully Bo-Katan had realised by this point that while the weapon was a potent symbol of the history of Mandalore, it was less important than the bonds she'd forged with her people, and she didn't allow the weapon's destruction to affect her.
The weapon may be restored now that the Mandalorian forges are up and running again, but that would undercut the significance of it being destroyed in the first place.
Who has used the Darksaber?
The Darksaber has had a few notable users over the years. We saw Din Djarin use the weapon in season 2 of his TV series, and he used is sparingly in The Mandalorian season 3.
It's not just Din Djarin, who you'll have seen in that particular sci-fi series holding the Darksaber, though. The Star Wars villain Moff Gideon also wielded the Darksaber, hoping to use it as part of his nefarious scheme to experiment on the Mandalorian character of Baby Yoda.
Throughout Star Wars history, various Mandalore people have held the Darksaber. Sabine Wren possessed the weapon in the animated series Star Wars Rebels, as did Bo-Katan, who was the weapon's last owner before it was destroyed.
Curiously, one of the few non-Mandalorians who held the weapon was none other than Darth Maul. He took the Darksaber from Pre Vizsla after the coup of Mandalore and then tried to use it to defeat his former master Emperor Palpatine.
Who has the Darksaber now?
As of April 2023, no one owns the Darksaber, as Moff Gideon destroyed it during The Mandalorian season 3 finale.
Can Jedi use the Darksaber?
Yes, Jedi could have used the Darksaber. Unlike a lightsaber, which is used most effectively by a Force-user, the Darksaber can forge a connection with anyone who possesses it.
That's all we know about the Darksaber. If you want more from Star Wars, check out our guides to the Andor season 2 release date or the Ahsoka release date. Or, learn all about Star Wars characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Cassian Andor, or Darth Vader.