Darth Maul’s Lightsaber

Who is Darth Maul?

Maul was a Force-user Dathomirian Zabrak male who became a crime lord during the Galactic Empire’s rule. He was known as Darth Maul when he was the apprentice of Darth Sidious. Trained in the ways of the Force, Maul was a powerful warrior skilled in lightsaber combat. Even after losing his place as Sidious’ apprentice, he remained a cunning mastermind, always plotting to gain more power.

Born in 54 BBY during the Galactic Republic era, Maul was the son of Mother Talzin, the leader of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, and had two brothers, Savage Opress and Feral. Sidious sensed Maul’s potential and took him as an apprentice when he was still a child in 40 BBY, naming him Darth Maul. Maul was raised to hate the Jedi Knights and trained to help the Sith take revenge on them.

During the Invasion of Naboo, Darth Maul fought Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Although he killed Jinn, Maul was defeated and cut in half by Kenobi. Everyone thought Maul was dead, but he survived and reappeared ten years later during the Clone Wars.

Even after finding out that his Master had a new apprentice, Darth Tyranus, Maul still thought of himself as a Sith Lord. He took his brother as his own apprentice, believing they were the real Sith, not Sidious and Tyranus.

Maul then planned to take control of Mandalore by defeating the New Mandalorians and putting the Death Watch in charge. He also grew his criminal group, the Shadow Collective, to include the Pyke Syndicate, Black Sun and the Hutt Clan.

As Maul’s power grew, he became a threat to his old Master’s plans, leading to a fight where his brother was killed and Maul was captured by Sidious. Maul later escaped with the help of his Mandalorian fighters and ruled Mandalore again until the Grand Army of the Republic defeated him.

Maul endured through the end of the Clone Wars, witnessed the Great Jedi Purge under Order 66, and saw Sidious ascend to the position of Galactic Emperor. Humbled by his old Master’s teachings about the Rule of Two, Maul gave up his claim to be a Sith. Instead, he focused on building his own empire, the Crimson Dawn, by taking control of the criminal underworld.

However, he was still driven by a desire for revenge against Sidious, who had rejected him, and Kenobi, the Jedi who had defeated him. In his fight with the Jedi fugitives Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger, Maul tracked Kenobi to Tatooine, determined to end their rivalry once and for all. Their final lightsaber duel ended with Kenobi defeating Maul.

Believing that Kenobi was living in exile to protect the Chosen One, Maul died finding comfort in the thought that the Sith would eventually be destroyed and he would be avenged.

Darth Maul’s Lightsaber

Darth Maul initially used a red double-bladed lightsaber. When it was cut in half in 32 BBY, it turned into a single-bladed weapon.

While it was still a double-bladed saberstaff, Maul used it on many missions for his master, Darth Sidious. He carried out assassinations of Jedi and eliminated enemies, including Jedi Anoon Bondara, Siolo Ur Manka, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darsha Assant. The lightsaber also played a key role in his mission to weaken the Black Sun criminal syndicate.

Following his return to the galaxy, Maul continued to use the weapon to wreak havoc. He slaughtered a village on Raydonia and killed Jedi Bruu Jun-Fan, Ko Solok, Grohto, and Finn Ertay. Maul employed the lightsaber in battles on Moorjhone and during a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Florrum. He also used it on missions to Nal Hutta and Jabba Desilijic Tiure’s palace. On Mandalore, Maul wielded the lightsaber to defeat Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla and later used it in a duel against Darth Sidious.

The Story Behind Maul’s Lightsaber

Darth Maul crafted his double-bladed lightsaber out of necessity. Sent to the Jentares system to assassinate the reclusive Jedi Master Siolo Ur Manka, Maul found himself unable to match the warrior’s physical prowess. During their initial encounter, Maul was struck across the face with his opponent’s Force-imbued staff and disarmed. Realizing he couldn’t defeat Manka through sheer martial skill, Maul decided to rely on his strategic cunning and surprise his opponent.

Returning to his ship, Maul utilized Sith schematics he had access to, constructing two separate lightsabers. By welding the weapons together, Maul created his new double-bladed lightsaber. This weapon consisted of two lightsabers with connected pommels, both featuring identical designs. Just below the beam emitter and projection plate of each weapon were the modulation circuitry and the activator. Adjacent to the activator was a control lock and a small, ridged handgrip. A blade modulation control was positioned next, followed by a second set of control locks. The center of the weapon marked the joint between the two lightsabers.

Maul took great pride in crafting the crystals for his weapon. He created four synthetic lightsaber crystals in a compression furnace, meditating deeply for four days to use the Force to control and monitor their formation.

Combat Style and Usage

Darth Maul possessed exceptional lightsaber skills that made him a feared opponent. His master, Darth Sidious, once remarked, “You have been well trained, my young apprentice. They will be no match for you,” before sending Maul to confront the Jedi during the conflict on Naboo.

As Sidious’ apprentice, Maul underwent rigorous training to become a living weapon of the Sith. His purpose was to assist Sidious in annihilating the Jedi and seizing control of the galaxy. This intense preparation resulted in Maul becoming one of the most lethal and efficiently trained Sith in the Order’s history.

Maul’s fighting style was characterized by acrobatic prowess and relentless pursuit of his enemies. His signature weapon, the double-bladed lightsaber, became an extension of his formidable combat skills. Maul’s training encompassed various forms of lightsaber combat, which he first put to the test against the Jedi apprentice Eldra Kaitis. Although Kaitis held her own for a time, Maul ultimately emerged victorious.

The true extent of Maul’s abilities was demonstrated during his encounter with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo. He showcased his prowess by simultaneously engaging both the Jedi Master and his talented apprentice on equal footing. Maul’s skills were so refined that he managed to overpower Kenobi after defeating Jinn.

While Kenobi eventually bested Maul, this victory was partly attributed to Maul’s overconfidence and his disregard for Jinn’s fallen lightsaber. In subsequent encounters after his exile, Maul often outmatched Kenobi, including their confrontation over Raydonia. However, their duel on Florrum ended in a stalemate, highlighting the evolving nature of their rivalry.

Maul’s combat expertise extended beyond lightsaber techniques. He excelled in unarmed combat, frequently incorporating hand-to-hand fighting into his style. This versatility was particularly evident when he defeated the armed Pre Vizsla with minimal assistance from the Force.

The Sith warrior also demonstrated considerable skill in Jar’Kai. He held his own against Jinn and Kenobi simultaneously on Naboo before strategically separating them. Even when facing his former master, Darth Sidious, on Mandalore, Maul put up a commendable fight using dual blades, managing to land a kick on the Dark Lord.

Maul’s adaptability in combat was further showcased after the Clone Wars when he effortlessly wielded an additional weapon alongside his double-bladed lightsaber. On one occasion, he effectively used a walking stick as a club in conjunction with his connected blades.

Throughout his career, Maul proved capable of dispatching many adversaries, including Banking Clan droid guards, pirates, Hutt Clan forces, Separatist battle droids, clone troopers, and even four of General Grievous’ formidable MagnaGuards. He held his own against renowned Jedi such as Mace Windu and Aayla Secura on a Mandalorian supply outpost, a fight Maul himself deemed “fair.”

Maul’s encounters with General Grievous, the infamous Jedi hunter, further cemented his reputation. While their first duel ended in a stalemate, Maul overwhelmed the cyborg in their second and third encounters, showcasing his growing mastery of combat.

Even after more than a decade, Maul’s fighting skills remained sharp. On Malachor, he aided Ahsoka Tano and Kanan Jarrus against three Inquisitors, defeating them with ease. However, he lost the advantage to Jarrus in a subsequent battle, resulting in Maul blinding the Jedi with his lightsaber.

Despite Maul’s impressive dueling skills, he was ultimately outmatched by his former master, Darth Sidious. In a confrontation involving Maul and his brother, Savage Opress, Sidious demonstrated his superior abilities by disarming and overpowering Maul with Force techniques.

Maul himself acknowledged his limitations, expressing doubt about his ability to defeat Darth Vader without assistance from the Jedi. In his final duel with his long-standing rival, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul was fatally wounded within seconds, marking the end of his tumultuous journey.

One of Maul’s unique abilities was his proficiency in manipulating his double-bladed lightsaber. Unlike the Inquisitorius, whose lightsabers could rotate, or General Grievous, who could spin his split arms with weapons in each hand, Maul could twirl his double-bladed lightsaber using only one hand.

Maul also excelled in deflecting blaster bolts with his lightsaber. He demonstrated this skill by deflecting the combined shots of Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, and Zeb Orrelios, even when at a tactical disadvantage.