Lightsaber/Legends


 * The crystal is the heart of the blade.
 * The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
 * The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
 * The Force is the blade of the heart.


 * All are intertwined:
 * The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.


 * You are one.
 * &mdash; Said during lightsaber construction ceremony


 * "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age."
 * &mdash; Obi-Wan Kenobi

The lightsaber is the distinctive weapon of the Jedi, invented around 9,900 BBY. (The Jedi Order itself, however, is tens of thousands of years older than this weapon.) Since its plasma blade is essentially weightless, it is very difficult to handle safely, and its speed is best-suited to those with fast reaction times. Jedi traditionally construct their own lightsaber as part of their training.

The color of a lightsaber's blade is dependent upon the crystals used to focus it. Blue-bladed lightsabers are loosely associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are more closely associated with the Sith.

Rare lightsaber varieties

 * Great Lightsaber: Special focusing crystals and power systems enable this lightsaber to project a blade up to 3 meters in length.
 * Dual-phase Lightsaber: Multiple crystals allow the user to switch between blade lengths in battle.  Darth Vader wielded such a lightsaber, as did for example Micah Giiett, Gantoris, and Corran Horn.

Training
Apprentices of lightsaber combat use "training lightsabers." Training lightsabers are shorter, and have greatly diminished power. While these lightsabers are non-lethal, contact with the blade is very painful.

Cutting Power
The intensely hot blade of a lightsaber can cut through almost any substance. A few exceptions exist:
 * Cortosis ore: A unique substance that shuts down a lightsaber which contacts it.
 * An unnamed metal superconductor used for ship armor hundreds of years before the Galactic Empire.
 * Mandalorian Iron: A metal used by the Mandalorian warriors.
 * Certain types of energy shields.

Methods of Use
The lightsaber is a very versatile weapon, owing to its unique lightness and unidirectional cutting ability. It can be wielded one-handed with ease: this makes it easier for an opponent to deflect, but Jedi rarely face opposition armed with lightsabers. Using Jedi prescience, a lightsaber wielder can anticipate a blaster bolt's path and deflect it with his or her lightsaber.

Several styles of lightsaber combat have been developed over the years.

History
Around 9,990 BBY, the Jedi discovered that a super-heated plasmoid substance could be generated and held in place by a rod-shaped containment field. The field could be set so that the plasmoid-like substance could not escape, but other objects could pass into the ultra-hot core. This created a deadly blade of light which could slice its way through almost any substance. Such fields blocked one another, so the best defense against one blade was another blade. The field could be maintained almost indefinitely if linked to the generating device, because it functioned as a closed loop.

Thus the lightsaber was invented. The first lightsaber-like weapons were developed for siege purposes, using "frozen blaster technology. These required a separate power pack which was often worn on the back. The power sources and components were miniaturized to create the simple weapon used in the later era.

This smaller lightsaber gave the advantage to hand-to-hand troops whose adversaries (with high-density armor and even personal repulsor shields) were impervious to primitive slugthrowing weapons.

Further advances in the science of field technology allowed for a self-sustaining bubble of containment to be generated. A plasmoid could be generated and flung out at an opponent for quite some distance before it finally dissipated. This gave way to the invention of the blaster, which replaced the lightsaber for military purposes.

After the Great Jedi Purge, lightsabers became rare relics. However, lightsabers remained prized by some collectors, and some black market sales occurred.

Construction details
The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube (30 centimeters) that emits a beam of a plasma-like substance, or plasmoid.

All lightsabers contain some common basic components:
 * A handgrip
 * An activation stud plate
 * A safety switch
 * An emitter matrix
 * A lens assembly (focusing crystal)
 * A blade-length adjuster (only on Dual-Length Lightsabers)
 * A power cell
 * A power conduit
 * A recharge socket
 * A belt ring (optional)

The focusing crystal is the central component of the lightsaber. Suitable crystals are found naturally on a few planets, such as Ruusan (prior to 1,000 BBY) and Ilum. Crystals can also be synthesized. A particular method of synthesis used by the Sith (who had no easy access to natural crystals) produced the distinctive red blade of Dark Jedi weapons. Luke Skywalker, the founder of the New Jedi Order, also used a synthetic crystal, which produced a green blade.

A Double-Bladed Lightsaber or Lightstaff is essentially two lightsabers in a single oversized hilt. It is a very difficult weapon to handle, even more so than a traditional lightsaber. Notable users of double-bladed lightsabers were the Sith Lord Exar Kun and Sith Apprentice Darth Maul. Kun's lightsaber was both double-bladed and dual-phase.

The typical design of the hilt is a straight tube. Count Dooku however, preferred a curved hilt.

The knowledge of lightsaber construction largely disappeared during the extermination of the Jedi, but Luke Skywalker found the records and the materials he needed to construct his first lightsaber in Obi-Wan Kenobi's hut on Tatooine. Lightsaber construction includes the use of the Force to bind the components of a lightsaber together at a molecular or lower level, which enables the closed loop design to operate with near-perfect efficiency.

Concordance of Fealty

 * "Master Eeth Koth, I have something to return to you. It is a product of your own hands which you once entrusted to mine. In returning this lightsaber, I return your trust."
 * &mdash; Master Mace Windu

The Jedi tradition of entrusting one's lightsaber to a fellow member of the order is called the Concordance of Fealty. This exchange represents a serious, even sacred bond.

Forms of Lightsaber Combat
For more detailed information on this topic, see Lightsaber combat.

Form I (Shii-Cho)
Derived from pre-lightsaber sword arts, Shii-Cho is considered the most basic style. It is taught to Jedi initiates before they are allowed to progress to another form. Some choose to continue their study of Form I, and become masters of it.

Form II (Makashi)
Form II was developed for combat with opponents armed with melee weapons. It is also particularly suited for combat with a lightsaber-wielding opponent. When blasters became widespread, this form became very rare amongst Jedi. It was more common amongst Sith, such as Count Dooku, who mastered it.

Form III (Soresu)
Form III was inspired by the development of blasters. It is a defensive style that uses small, close movements to quickly protect the wielder from blaster bolts. Obi-wan Kenobi, one of the last of the Old Republic-era Jedi, was a master of this form.

Form IV (Ataru)
Form IV is an acrobatic style known for linked series of aggressive attacking movements, replete with spins and leaps. Its large motions make it particularly vulnerable if distancing is not carefully managed. Master Yoda was known for his skill in this form. Obi-Wan Kenobi originally studied this form, but transitioned to Form III after his duel with Darth Maul.

Form V (Djem So)
This very aggressive style actually originated from the students of Form III. Some direct links are visible: for instance, Form V copies many Form III deflection techniques, but also studies how to aim the deflected bolt back at the attacker. Otherwise, it is a large, sweeping style characterized by double-handed slashes and advancing footwork. Anakin Skywalker was a student of this style.

Luke Skywalker is also considered a Form V stylist, although important qualifications need to be made. His first teacher, Obi-Wan Kenobi, studied Form III (and, previously, Form IV), and his second teacher, Yoda, studied Form IV. Thus, his formal study of this style only really began in the New Republic years.

Form VI (Lus-Ma)
Form VI is colloquially called "the diplomat's form," as it is mainly studied by Jedi Consulars. It is not considered very effective, perhaps in part because the vast majority of its students are not specialists in combat.

Form VII (Juyo)
Form VII is a newer style, most similar in appearance (but not internal method) to Form IV. Its study centers around improvisation and unpredictability. For a Force-user, it requires considerable spiritual discipline to employ this form without entering into the Dark Side. Mace Windu was a great master of this form.