Darth Sidious' lightsabers

Darth Sidious's lightsabers
Production information
Model	Electrum-finish lightsaber
Type	Single-blade
Culture	Sith
Creators	Darth Sidious
Owners	Darth Sidious
Physical and technical specifications
Hilt length	19 centimeters
Hilt material	Aurodium (blade emitter) Electrum finish Phrik
Crystal	Kyber crystal
Blade color	Red
Blade length	Adjustable
Usage and history
Purpose	Lightsaber combat
Affiliation	Sith Galactic Empire

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Darth Sidious's lightsabers were the pair of nearly identical personal electrum-finish lightsabers of Darth Sidious, built during his apprenticeship under Darth Plagueis. Sidious rarely used his weapons—only doing so when absolutely necessary—as they would have immediately identified him as a Sith Lord. Instead, he preferred to exercise his powers of manipulation and used servants to carry out his hidden agenda.

Specifications

Darth Sidious had discerning tastes, which was reflected in his lightsabers. They were constructed from nearly indestructible phrik with a flat aurodium blade emitter, and all finished with electrum. The weapons utilized a Kyber crystal at their cores.

While both were originally identical, one of them was later retrofitted with an unknown black material.

One of the weapons was normally hidden inside a neuranium sculpture that was displayed on the desk of his office within the Senate Office Building on Coruscant.

In the Jedi Order, when you reached a high rank you would be gifted pieces of electrum for your lightsaber. That is why the lightsaber of Mace Windu, one of the most high ranking Jedi in the order had gold electrum all over his lightsaber. This was a tradition that was respected and used for the time the Jedi were in power. Palpatine put electrum on his lightsabers to show how little he cared for the ways of the Jedi. He also used indistructible phrik to show that his hate could never be broken.

History

Darth Sidious' weapons were constructed by Sidious during his apprenticeship under Darth Plagueis.

Clone Wars

Mandalore

Darth Sidious wielding both lightsabers on Mandalore

In 19 BBY, Darth Sidious carried both of these lightsabers when he secretly traveled to Mandalore to confront Darth Maul and his apprentice Savage Opress. He wielded both weapons in the ensuing duel, separating the pair and effortlessly dispatching and killing Opress. Maul, using two lightsabers of his own, proved a much tougher opponent and held his own for a while longer. Sidious eventually dispensed with swordplay and defeated Maul with the Force, subduing him with a combination of telekinesis and Force lightning.

Second battle of Dathomir

Sidious later wielded one of his lightsabers during the second battle of Dathomir, and used it to fight Mother Talzin in combat. Ultimately, Talzin was defeated with the help of General Grievous and Sidious's apprentice, Dooku.

The Galactic Empire's rise

Duel in Palpatine's office

Palpatine brandishes one of his lightsabers against the Jedi

Near the end of the Clone Wars, Palpatine fought against Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin and Agen Kolar. He slew Kolar, Tinn and Fisto easily, but had an extended confrontation with Windu. The Jedi guided the battle towards the bay window of Palpatine's office and out onto the wind-blown ledge outside. Windu disarmed the Sith Lord with a surgically precise kick to the face, throwing Palpatine off-balance and causing the Sith Lord to drop his lightsaber as he flailed for balance. The lightsaber fell out the window into the seemingly bottomless streets and alleyways of Coruscant below just before Skywalker showed up. Consequentially, it also forced him to rely only on one lightsaber.

Showdown within the Senate

Palpatine, using his remaining lightsaber, duels Yoda.

After Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda realized what had happened, Yoda went to face the Emperor personally at the Senate Building, while Kenobi headed off to kill Darth Vader. Yoda surprised Palpatine, who told him that his arrogance blinded him and that his apprentice would be more powerful than both of them. Yoda answered Palpatine that his faith in Vader was a mistake along with his faith in the dark side. Yoda dueled Sidious, who had already retrieved his other weapon and placed it in his sleeve. The duel brought them to the Galactic Senate Chamber, the heart of the Senate. Sidious hurled Senate pods at Yoda, and the effort to avoid them exhausted the Jedi Master. Sidious then blasted Yoda with Force lightning, but with the last of his strength the Jedi Master repelled it enough to send both himself and Sidious over the pod's edge. Palpatine was able to hold on to a senate pod, while Yoda fell to the senate floor, leaving only his cloak. With Bail Organa's help, Yoda fled the Senate Building and would go into exile.

Later usage

Darth Sidious would once again use his lightsaber and fought alongside his apprentice against a swarm of lyleks on the planet Ryloth.

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Lawless"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Voices" (Vision to Yoda)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Sacrifice" (Vision to Yoda)
• Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Four
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (First appearance)
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 1: The Chosen One, Part I
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 5: The Chosen One, Part V (Vision to Darth Vader)
• Lords of the Sith
• Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures — "Yoda – The Jedi Master" (In flashback(s))
• Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures — "Luke vs. Emperor Palpatine - Rise to Evil" (In flashback(s))

Non-canon appearances

• LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales — "Crisis on Coruscant" (In flashback(s))
• LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes

Sources

• Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Darth Sidious' lightsabers)
• Star Wars: Complete Locations
• Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
• Star Wars Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force
• Agen Kolar in the Databank (backup link)
• Palpatine's lightsaber in the Databank (backup link)
• Yoda in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)

Notes and references

In other languages

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