Kyber crystal

"The heart of the lightsaber, the crystal is."

- Yoda

Kyber crystals were Force-attuned crystals that grew on the ice planet of Ilum and that were used in the construction of lightsabers. As part of Jedi training, younglings were sent to the crystal caves of Ilum to harvest crystals and then construct their own lightsabers. The Sith used red crystals. There were also larger, rarer crystals of great power and that, according to legends, were used at the heart of ancient superweapons.

Description
Kyber crystals were found in the ice caves of the planet Ilum, and in the crust of the Outer Rim world Lothal. The crystals were attuned to the Force and used in the construction of lightsabers. As younglings, Jedi traveled to the ice caves to harvest their own crystals, which they then used to build their lightsabers. The Force guided their selection, finding a crystal that matched them as Jedi. Crystals lacked color before they were chosen by a Jedi. Once chosen, most lightsabers became blue or green, though other shades were created in rare instances. The Sith, on the other hand, used red crystals.

History
"Long ago in forgotten times when the Sith and Jedi fought for control of the galaxy, weapons there were of unimaginable power. Always at their heart a kyber crystal was."

- Yoda

During ancient wars between the Jedi and the Sith, in which both sides fought for control over the galaxy, superweapons were created that were powered by giant kyber crystals. Although these stories were considered legends, a giant kyber crystal was discovered on Utapau during the Clone Wars. The Confederacy of Independent Systems attempted to acquire the crystal, but they were discovered by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi were able to destroy the crystal, though Yoda was concerned that Darth Sidious would discover another giant kyber crystal in order to construct another superweapon.

After the fall of the Galactic Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Sidious&mdash;publicly known as Emperor Sheev Palpatine&mdash;and his Empire constructed the Death Star, a battle station capable of destroying entire planets. Kyber crystals were used as part of the Death Star, and the Empire continued to search for new crystals five years before the Battle of Yavin. One such crystal was located by the rebels from Lothal, who discovered its location and destroyed it. The destruction produced a large shockwave, destroying everything in its path.

Appearances

 * Tarkin
 * Tarkin
 * Tarkin
 * Tarkin
 * Tarkin
 * Tarkin
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 * Tarkin