Double-bladed lightsaber combat

"The single blade has limitations, Master. It made sense to me to be able to strike with both ends."

- Darth Maul to Darth Sidious

Jedi and Sith who mastered double-bladed lightsaber combat were a rarity. This type of lightsaber combat evolved around a double-bladed lightsaber - sometimes also referred to as a sith lightsaber or saber-staff.

A saber-staff would typically consist of a long hilt which had energy blades at both ends. The blades could be ignited one at a time, the saber-staff thus functioning as a normal lightsaber, or simultaneously. One of the primary functions of a double bladed lightsaber was to create fear in the opponent, as a double bladed lightsaber, with its two deadly blades, looked more menacing than an ordinary one.

Double-bladed lightsaber combat was more like fighting with a staff than with a sword. The weapon having two blades, double-bladed lightsaber combat allowed for much more rapid attack which were more difficult to parry for someone using an ordinary lightsaber. Also it allowed for "more kills per swing", since one would be able to strike opponents in front of and behind oneself simultaneously. This type of lightsaber combat was extremely rare. Firstly, because it was very difficult to master and using a double-bladed lightsaber could be more dangerous to the untrained wielder than to his opponent. Secondly, this type of lightsaber combat was of an aggressive nature and thus deemed too close to the dark side by many Jedi.

Several of the standard forms of lightsaber combat had double-bladed variants. Darth Maul used a double-bladed variant of Form VII, and Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell used a double-bladed variant of Ataru. Jaden Korr may have used double-bladed versions of the fast, medium, and strong styles.

Wielders of double-bladed lightsabers

 * Exar Kun used a blue double-bladed lightsaber with a short hilt and is believed to have been the creator of both the form and the weapon.
 * Darth Bandon used a red double-bladed lightsaber during his apprenticeship to Darth Malak.
 * Bastila Shan initially used a single blade, but after her first encounter with Darth Revan she switched to a long-hilted yellow double-bladed lightsaber and specialized in this form of lightsaber combat.
 * Zez-Kai Ell was known to use a purple double-bladed lightsaber.
 * As a Sith Lord, Darth Zannah wielded a unique red double-bladed lightsaber powered by the Bane's Heart, given to her by her master Darth Bane. Long after Zannah's death, this lightsaber came into the possession of General Grievous.
 * Darth Maul frequently used a red double-bladed lightsaber in combat during his apprenticeship to Darth Sidious
 * Jastus Farr used a green double bladed lightsaber during the Clone Wars era.
 * Komari Vosa, who was formerly Count Dooku's apprentice, had learned how to lock two red lightsabers together for usage as a single double-bladed one.
 * Asajj Ventress inherited Komari Vosa's lightsabers, and as such, practiced this form.
 * N-K Necrosis, the recycled General Grievous, used a red double-bladed lightsaber that he had found in Grievous's starfighter, which was originally belonged to Darth Zannah, along with the blaster that had shot down Grievous.
 * Jaden Korr, apprentice to the Jedi Master Kyle Katarn, may have used a double-bladed lightsaber during the crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos.
 * Several of Tavion Axmis' New Reborn and Sith Cultists used double-bladed lightsabers, but they lacked much training and were no match for the Jedi of the New Jedi Order.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Marked
 * Darth Maul
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Darth Maul: Saboteur
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Jedi: Mace Windu
 * Star Wars Republic: The New Face of War
 * Star Wars Republic 53: Blast Radius
 * The Cestus Deception
 * Rogues Gallery
 * Star Wars Republic 60: Hate and Fear
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Star Wars Republic: The Dreadnaughts of Rendili
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (game)
 * Star Wars: Purge
 * Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Star Wars Legacy: Broken