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"It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force, but by our skills with a lightsaber."
―Dooku to Yoda, during their confrontation on Geonosis[8]

Dooku's lightsaber, also known as Darth Tyranus' lightsaber, or Dooku's Sith lightsaber, was the personal curved-hilt lightsaber of Dooku, the Count of Serenno. The former Jedi Master, who became Darth Tyranus and the political leader of the Separatist Alliance, constructed the weapon's unique hilt with a kyber crystal that emitted a red blade. As the apprentice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, Dooku used the Sith blade against his foes.

The weapon was built for the purpose of lightsaber combat, and the Sith Lord carried it with him into numerous battles during the Clone Wars against the Jedi, a conflict he and his master orchestrated from both sides. In his final bout, Dooku lost his Sith lightsaber to the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker once he was defeated in a duel aboard the starship Invisible Hand. Skywalker used Dooku's own weapon to behead the Sith Lord and end his life.

Description[]

"When he became my apprentice, Count Dooku was already in possession of a lightsaber that he carried during his many years as a Jedi. His weapon was handcrafted to meet his high standards of excellence and sophistication. The lightsaber's unusual curved hilt was perfectly balanced to complement his graceful fighting style and expertise as a duelist."
―Darth Sidious[11]
CountDookuDeviousStrategist-SWDA

Dooku's curved-hilt lightsaber featured a red blade after becoming Darth Tyranus.

When he was a Jedi Master, Dooku set aside the first lightsaber he had used as a Padawan to create one that was superior. The new lightsaber used a personalized design, and it had no connection to his master, Yoda, or to the fashion of that time. Dooku studied the Jedi Archives' records to make the design, and the lightsaber was made to suit his technique, and favored long, elegant moves and deftness of hand. He continued to use the blade even after he became a Sith,[12] but by then he had made minor modifications to the cosmetics of his hilt and his lightsaber had begun to generate a red-colored blade as a result of Dooku utilizing a red kyber crystal provided to him by his new master, Darth Sidious.[13]

Unlike any standard lightsaber, Dooku crafted his with an unusual curved shape, which helped control the weapon when in a duel. Primarily, it allowed Dooku greater finesse and precision in combat when lunging or slashing at an opponent. This was done by Dooku as he considered himself a sophisticated duelist,[3] often able to use his lightsaber under the control of only one hand, and against multiple opponents.[8][10]

History[]

"That lightsaber. It's—Where did you get that?"
"I made it, of course."
Jak'zin and Dooku, shortly before the latter kills the former[1]
Yoda Dooku dueling demo

Jedi Master Dooku was a skilled lightsaber duelist who learned the Jedi arts from Grand Master Yoda.

As sometimes occurred in the Jedi Order, Jedi Master Dooku set aside the first lightsaber he had used as a Padawan. Dooku wished to create a superior lightsaber, and, after studying Jedi Archives to make the design, the Jedi Master had his personalized design. His lightsaber had no connection to the fashion at the time or to his master, Yoda, who had a shoto. This lightsaber was made to suit his technique, and this weapon favored long, elegant moves and deftness of hand.[12] The lightsaber gave off a blue color, and Dooku even dueled Yoda with the lightsaber. However, Dooku would leave the Jedi Order sometime before the Invasion of Naboo, where his former Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, was killed.[1] Although Dooku offered to leave the lightsaber with the Jedi, he decided to keep it upon Yoda's urging.[14]

Dooku continued to use the blade even after he became a Sith. The blade still retained its blue color when he dueled and killed Master Yaddle and reaffirmed his new allegiance to the Dark Side.[15]

During the galactic-conflict known as the Clone Wars, the weapon now had a red color as a result of it using a red kyber crystal provided by his new master Darth Sidious.[13] Ten years after the Invasion of Naboo, Dooku used his weapon at the First Battle of Geonosis against Obi-Wan, Anakin and Yoda, which started the Clone Wars.[8]

Dooku vs yoda

Renouncing the Jedi Order, Count Dooku challenged his former master to a lightsaber duel.

In a private hangar, as he made his escape from Geonosis, Dooku was confronted by the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan, Anakin Skywalker.[8] Dooku was easily[3] able to best his opponents with his lightsaber, wounding both Kenobi and Skywalker, the latter of which Dooku severed his arm after a brief duel. Immediately after, Dooku was confronted by his former Jedi Master, Yoda, whom Dooku was unable to best in combat with either the Force or his lightsaber, regardless of having challenged his former master to prove how powerful he had become.[8]

Hondo Dookus lightsaber

Hondo Ohnaka displayed Dooku's lightsaber as proof that the Count was his prisoner.

At one point during the Clone Wars, Kenobi and Skywalker tracked Dooku's starship down in an attempt to capture him, but failed. A brief conflict led to a crash landing for Dooku's solar sailer on Vanqor, where the Weequay Hondo Ohnaka and his pirate gang offered him transport to Florrum. However, Ohnaka had no intention of aiding Dooku, instead using the loyal Kowakian monkey-lizard Pilf Mukmuk to steal Dooku's lightsaber and take the Sith Lord captive. Ohnaka demanded a ransom for Dooku, presenting the unique, curved lightsaber as proof of the Sith Lord's capture to the Republic and the Jedi—which convinced Yoda, who confirmed the weapon's authenticity.[9] Dooku later recovered his weapon and escaped Florrum.[16]

Dooku continued to use his Sith lightsaber through the Clone Wars under the guise as the leader of the Separatist Alliance, leading the conflict against the Galactic Republic.[3] Although Dooku secretly operated under his hidden identity of Tyranus, he had no qualms about using the Sith weapon out in the open. Dooku killed the Gungan traitor Rish Loo with his lightsaber in front of Skywalker on Naboo during the war,[17] and later killed the Pyke Syndicate leader Lom Pyke, in front of both Kenobi and Skywalker, with his lightsaber as well. It was this mission that the Jedi learned Dooku and Tyranus were one and the same.[18]

Makashi2

Dooku fought against both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on several occasions in the Clone Wars.

Eventually, Dooku attempted to train two Sith apprentices of his own to overthrow Darth Sidious and become the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, as was the way of the Sith. However, although he successfully recruited both Asajj Ventress and Savage Opress to his cause for a time, eventually they were both failures as Sith; regardless, Dooku used both his knowledge of the Force and his dueling skill to train them both.[3] He also successfully trained the cyborg General Grievous in lightsaber combat; Grievous went on to kill numerous Jedi in the Clone Wars and collect their lightsabers for his collection, becoming a feared opponent. Grievous was eventually defeated in combat by Kenobi.[10]

During the Battle of Coruscant—in what would become Dooku's final bout—Dooku faced-off once again with Kenobi and Skywalker aboard Grievous' starship, the Invisible Hand, in the General's quarters. The two Jedi believed they were there to rescue the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was in secret Darth Sidious;[10] Sidious' true agenda, however, was to make Dooku a necessary sacrifice to recruit a new apprentice in Skywalker.[3]

DookuScaredtoDeath

During the Battle of Coruscant, Skywalker executed Dooku with the Sith Lord's own lightsaber.

After Dooku defeated Kenobi and rendered him unconscious, a vengeful Skywalker charged at Dooku during their duel.[10] Although Dooku was confident that his skills with a lightsaber would be enough to best the Jedi Knight —just like he had previously done on Geonosis—[3] he was unable to keep up with Skywalker's ferocity and lost both his hands in a quick motion from Skywalker. The Jedi Knight then took Dooku's own lightsaber and, at the urging of Sidious, beheaded the unarmed Count Dooku with the Sith Lord's own weapon.[10]

Once Skywalker escaped with both Kenobi and Palpatine in tow, Dooku's lightsaber was left behind aside Dooku's corpse in Grievous' quarters on the Invisible Hand. Shortly thereafter, the General's quarters were destroyed.[10]

Behind the scenes[]

"I've probably done more sword fights on celluloid than any actor in history, and this fight is greater than anything I've ever been involved in."
―Christopher Lee in the Attack of the Clones "Action Featurette"[19]
Dooku BTS two lightsabers

The late Christopher Lee, who portrayed Dooku in the Star Wars films, on the set of Episode II filming Dooku's lightsaber duel with Yoda.

Dooku's lightsaber first appeared alongside Count Dooku's first on-screen appearance in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.[8][10] Dooku and his weapon continued to appear in Star Wars canon through other media, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars film,[20] the television series of the same name,[21] and The Clone Wars Legacy[22] and a few novels.[23][24]

When creating Count Dooku, George Lucas–creator of the Star Wars saga–wanted an older Jedi who was "very good," "elegant," and "sophisticated." These traits were later represented in Dooku's portrayal and in his feats with a lightsaber.[19] The late Christopher Lee, who portrayed Dooku in the live-action Star Wars films, said he found the role "very rewarding" and that the action scenes from Attack of Clones were the greatest he had ever been involved in.[25] Lee, a renowned expert at sword fighting throughout his career, had to learn new fighting styles for the lightsaber sequences.[26] Kyle Rowling doubled for Lee in both Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith,[8][10] in particular during some of the lightsaber sequences, where Rowling's face was replaced with Lee's using CGI.[26][27] The distinctive curved shape of the lightsaber handle was a result of earlier exploration into Sith villains. Art Department Assistant Roel Robles drew inspiration from various Filipino swords, knives, and spears; the Barong, one of them, had a curved handle which provided a firmer grip for its bearer.[28]

Originally, there were plans to have Count Dooku wield two lightsabers during his duel with Yoda in Attack of the Clones. This was later dropped from the film as it was not needed, although scenes were filmed, parts of which can be found on the special features of the Attack of the Clones DVD release.[8] In concept art for unfinished episodes of The Clone Wars Legacy, Dooku's lightsaber was the basis for the lightsaber of Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis, who ultimately made an appearance in the episode "The Big Bang" without the lightsaber.[29] The reference booklet "Lightsabers and Jedi Equipment" mistakenly says Dooku's lightsaber used a synthetic kyber crystal.[30]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Age of Republic - Count Dooku 1
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Star Wars Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
  4. 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded
  5. Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
  6. Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
  7. AltayaCite "Lightsabers and Jedi Equipment" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
  9. 9.0 9.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Dooku Captured"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  11. Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith
  12. 12.0 12.1 Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
  13. 13.0 13.1 Star Wars Expert Guide
  14. Dooku: Jedi Lost
  15. Tales of the Jedi logo Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — "The Sith Lord"
  16. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Gungan General"
  17. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow Warrior"
  18. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Lost One"
  19. 19.0 19.1 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones "Story Featurette" (Star Wars: The Complete Saga)
  20. Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
  21. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV series)
  22. Star Wars: Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir
  23. Dark Disciple
  24. Tarkin
  25. Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones "Action Featurette" (Star Wars: The Complete Saga)
  26. 26.0 26.1 HomingBeaconTitleSmall Homing Beacon #62 - Making it Count on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (June 13, 2002) (Excerpt: He's done more sword-fights than any other actor. […] This is a different kind of sword-fighting, so he had to learn a new kind, and he's very good at that.)
  27. StarWars Christopher Lee Summons the Force on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (December 11, 2001) (Excerpt: We went from black-and-white movies to color, and that of course went onto yellow screen and blue screen, and now what they call CGI -- well, it's all magic.)
  28. Databank title Dooku, Count in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  29. StarWars Crystal Crisis on Utapau Concept Art Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link) (Excerpt: Oppo's lightsaber is sourced from CW308 "Dooku Lightsaber", and the scale is unchanged.)
  30. AltayaCite "Lightsabers and Jedi Equipment" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
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