1. What are Lightsaber Crystals?
Lightsaber crystals were a diverse group of crystals, gems, stones, and other objects that served as the energy source for a lightsaber.
At the core of every lightsaber was a single crystal that resonated to generate the powerful, efficient blade. While crystals from the Adega system, Ilum, and Dantooine’s Crystal Cave were the most commonly used, both Jedi and Sith employed a variety of crystals to create different colors, effects, and unique abilities.
Some crystals could even enhance a user’s Force abilities. Additionally, certain gems, like colored crystals or diamonds, were used solely for their prismatic effects. However, not all lightsaber focus crystals were true “crystals.” Many Jedi and Sith substituted other materials or substances, such as physical remains, glass shards, or specialized micro machinery, for a crystal.
During the Great Sith War era, many lightsabers were crafted using Kunda stones, a natural geological formation from the planet Kadril, instead of crystals. These stones had various practical uses in medicine and communications, but when combined with other focusing crystals, they produced a wider beam.
2. What is the Process For Crystal Imbuement and Lightsaber Construction?
Before placing the crystal into the lightsaber, the Jedi or Sith had to infuse it with the Force. This process required the Force-user to meditate on the crystal for several days. Luke Skywalker, for instance, meditated on his crystal in Ben Kenobi’s home with only R2-D2 for company.
While Jedi typically used natural crystals, the Sith favored synthetic red-hued ones. However, Luke Skywalker constructed his lightsaber using a synthetic crystal, as natural crystals were not available on Tatooine. Sith-created synthetic crystals, when energized by the dark side, produced a blade that was slightly more powerful. Occasionally, a Sith lightsaber could even “break” a Jedi’s blade. Darth Sidious instructed Darth Maul to use a special furnace to forge his own crystals. Maul labored relentlessly for several days to craft the four crystals necessary for his double-bladed lightsaber.
The creation process required intense focus, as Maul used the Force not only to shape the crystals and remove impurities but also to sustain himself through the furnace’s blistering heat. Maul took great pride in this accomplishment, viewing it as a testament to the Sith’s superiority over the Jedi. However, Sidious did not require his later apprentices, Tyranus and Vader, to create their crystals this way, instead providing them with crystals himself.
Luke Skywalker, opting to create his lightsaber crystal rather than using a natural one, utilized a special furnace he discovered in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s home to prepare it. As demonstrated by both Skywalker and Maul, the process of forging a synthetic crystal involved channeling the creator’s Force energies and personality into the crystal, making it entirely unique, including in its color.
The Jedi Order developed an advanced technique that could cleanse synthetic crystals created by dark-side users, purging them of the hate and darkness of their former owners. In 41 ABY, Jaden Korr, after losing his second lightsaber, employed this technique to purify the red crystal of a Dark Jedi he had defeated. Through meditation, he successfully banished the dark side from the crystal and infused it with the light side, transforming the Dark Jedi’s weapon into a yellow lightsaber.
3. What Do Lightsaber Crystal Colors Represent?
Around 4000 BBY, Jedi used lightsaber focus crystals to signify their chosen class. A blue crystal represented a Jedi Guardian, who engaged with the Force through physical action. A green crystal signified a Jedi Consular, who focused on understanding the Force’s mysteries and combating the dark side’s core. A yellow crystal indicated a Jedi Sentinel, who balanced combat prowess with scholarly expertise.
This practice faded over time, with most Jedi eventually choosing blue or green crystals from Ilum caves based on personal preference. The use of crystals from other source worlds became rare. However, specific roles like the Temple Guards continued to use yellow crystals for their lightsabers. Although purple and orange crystals were still occasionally used by Jedi until the fall of the Jedi Order, they were extremely rare and often handed down through generations.
Throughout the Galactic Civil War, the Galactic Empire prohibited the trade and ownership of all lightsaber focus crystals. Without access to Ilum crystals, the Jedi of the New Jedi Order resorted to using various crystals and gems, resulting in lightsaber blades of diverse colors.
To learn more about the meanings behind lightsaber colors, check out our article Lightsaber Color Meanings.
4. Lightsaber Crystals
Various stones, minerals, and crystals could be used in constructing a lightsaber, each imparting unique colors and effects. In many cases, the rarer the crystal, the more potent its impact on the lightsaber.
4.1 Adegan Crystals
Adegan crystals, a type of lightsaber crystal frequently used by Jedi, were rare, Force-reactive stones primarily found in the Adega system, though they were also present on the planet Halm. Other known locations included Mygeeto and parts of the Cularin asteroid belt.
Adegan crystals shared a unique connection with the Force, allowing Jedi to forge a bond between themselves, the Force, and their weapon. This connection caused lightsabers equipped with Adegan crystals to emit a faint Force signature detectable by other Jedi.
The mephite and pontite variants of Adegan crystals, known for producing the finest lightsaber blades, were structurally similar to Ilum crystals. Despite this similarity, Ilum crystals were much more abundant, with entire caves of high-quality crystals, making them the most common lightsaber crystals among the Jedi until the Great Jedi Purge. Most Padawans underwent the ritual of constructing their first lightsaber on Ilum.
Ilum crystals were predominantly green or blue, with occasional instances of purple. While they were not as strongly connected to the Force as Adegan crystals, they possessed the properties necessary for a Jedi’s weapon. When induced by resonant frequencies, these crystals emitted powerful bursts of light, which were then harnessed into a rod-like beam by other lightsaber components. Obi-Wan Kenobi used an Adegan crystal in his first lightsaber.
During the Cold War, the Sith Empire discovered how to use Adegan crystals mined from Ilum to create a stealth armada.
Following the execution of Order 66, the Galactic Empire banned the possession of all crystals capable of being used in a lightsaber.
Types of Adegan Crystals:
- Kathracite was the most common variety of Adegan crystal, followed by relacite and danite. These crystals were less effective at focusing energy compared to their rarer counterparts and were typically used in training sabers.
- Mephite was a standard Adegan crystal commonly used by Jedi.
- Pontite was the rarest and most potent type of Adegan crystal. Extremely difficult to find, it emitted a powerful aura that cooled both the skin and temperament of its wielder.
4.1.1 Kathracite Crystals
Kathracite crystals were a type of crystal that could be used in lightsaber construction. Alongside danite crystals, the Jedi Order commonly used kathracite crystals in training lightsabers for Jedi Initiates. These crystals made the lightsabers non-lethal and generated minimal power.
4.1.2 Danite Crystals
Danite crystals were lightsaber crystals frequently used by the Jedi Order in the training lightsabers of their younglings. These lightsabers were low-powered and non-lethal.
4.1.3 Mephite Crystals
Mephite crystals, also known simply as mephite, were rare and lustrous kyber crystals found in select locations within the Adega system and on Ilum.
Mephite crystals were one of the five types of crystals collectively known as adegan crystals, prized for their internal structure and light-modulating properties, making them ideal for use in lightsabers. Like all adegan crystals, mephite crystals were Force-reactive and could be infused with a small amount of a Force-sensitive’s power. When installed in a lightsaber and infused with the Force, mephite crystals emitted a subtle but steady Force signature detectable by nearby Force users.
Along with pontite crystals, mephite was discovered on Ilum by Jedi survey teams thousands of years before the formation of the Galactic Empire.
4.1.4 Pontite Crystals
Pontite crystals, also known simply as pontite, were a type of kyber crystal found on the icy planet Ilum and in the caverns of Ossus, commonly used in the construction of Jedi lightsabers.
Thousands of years before the Galactic Empire’s rise, Jedi survey teams discovered pontite crystals on Ilum, alongside mephite crystals. Pontite was also one of the rare crystals found in the caverns of Ossus. The Greelwood Saber was constructed using a rare pontite crystal. Additionally, Helical HyperCom utilized pontite crystals in their production of communication devices, until Galen Walton Erso, an employee at the company, suggested replacing them with synthesized relacite to halve production costs and double bandwidth.
4.1.5 Relacite
Relacite was a type of synthetic crystal. Helical HyperCom initially used pontite crystals in their communication devices, but Galen Walton Erso, an employee at the company, proposed switching to synthesized relacite to reduce costs and boost bandwidth.
4.2 Amplification Crystals
The origins of Amplification crystals remain largely unknown. Maulkiller, an experiment created by Darth Vader using the genetic data of Galen Marek and Darth Maul, used two of these silver crystals. Maulkiller ultimately perished due to severe physical and mental instabilities, leaving the fate of his crystals uncertain.
4.3 Ankarres Sapphire (Antares Crystal)
The Ankarres Sapphire, also known as the Antares crystal, was renowned for its legendary healing abilities and numerous other effects. It was one of the most powerful crystals that could be used in lightsaber construction and was also highly potent, providing significant aid to a Jedi in battle.
According to legend, the Ankarres Sapphire could only be wielded by light-side users. If touched by someone aligned with the dark side, the crystal or saber would gradually heat up and burn their hand. This effect could supposedly be reversed if the crystal fell into the wrong hands.
The crystal may have been discovered by Meetra Surik around 3951 BBY. It was later held aboard the Kuari Princess by Dom Pricina until it was stolen by the droid 4-LOM sometime before the Battle of Yavin. After unsuccessfully pawning the sapphire on Darlyn Boda, 4-LOM retrieved it and brought it back to his partner, Zuckuss. Zuckuss then attempted to use the Ankarres Sapphire to heal both the Gand and Samoc Farr. The sapphire remained with the bounty hunter afterward.
4.4 Allya’s Redemption
Allya’s Redemption was a potent crystal occasionally used in lightsaber construction. When used in combat, it imbued the blade with a powerful acidic effect, causing severe poisoning to opponents. The crystal was named after the rogue Jedi Allya.
Allya’s Redemption gave the lightsaber blade a unique appearance, with an elusive light green color and a yellow core, reflecting the crystal’s venomous nature.
4.5 Allya’s Exile
Allya’s Exile was a potent crystal occasionally used in lightsaber construction, known for imparting a devastating burn effect during combat by generating intense heat.
Named after the rogue Jedi Allya, this crystal gave the lightsaber blade a striking scarlet color, reflecting its extreme thermal properties. While similar to the Sigil crystal in its application, Allya’s Exile far surpassed the Sigil crystal in power.
4.6 Bnar’s Sacrifice
Bnar’s Sacrifice was a distinctive brown lightsaber crystal once owned by the renowned Jedi Master Ood Bnar. After Bnar’s fall during the era of the Old Republic, he left this crystal as a legacy for future generations. Once a Force-sensitive individual attuned the crystal to their lightsaber, it became uniquely bound to them, preventing its use by anyone else.
4.7 Bane’s Heart
Bane’s Heart was a rare carmine lightsaber crystal gifted to Darth Zannah by her Sith Master, Darth Bane, after the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. She incorporated it into her double-bladed lightsaber, naming the weapon after the crystal itself.
The lightsaber and its crystal eventually fell into the hands of a Dark Jedi, who was later slain by General Grievous, the Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies within the Confederacy of Independent Systems, possibly on Dica or Necropolis. Grievous kept the weapon aboard his personal starfighter, which was later retrieved by Imperial forces and used in the N-K Project. During the Galactic Civil War, N-K Necrosis wielded the Bane’s Heart lightsaber until he was killed by a group of spacers, who then took the crystal from his remains.
When attuned to a lightsaber, Bane’s Heart caused the weapon to emit an electrical discharge and made it challenging for anyone other than its rightful owner to wield.
4.8 Barab Ingots
Barab Ingots, also known as Barab ore ingots, were rare lightsaber crystals found on the radiation-scorched surface of the planet Barab I. Despite the challenging conditions, a few managed to discover ingots suitable for use as focusing crystals. When integrated into a lightsaber, these ingots produced a clear, intense blade that burned almost to the point of losing cohesion.
The constant exposure to Barab I’s radiation gave the blade a fiery quality, often causing whatever it struck to ignite. The color of a Barab ingot blade could vary, with examples found in nearly every common lightsaber hue.
4.9 Blackwing Crystals
Blackwing Crystals were peculiar lightsaber crystals formed through exposure to the Blackwing virus, a Sith bioweapon that turns its victims into undead cannibals. When used in a lightsaber, these crystals produced a dark, smoky ash blade. They were discovered in the caves of the Quarantine Zone during a Blackwing virus outbreak on Dathomir, which occurred during the Galactic Civil War. In 1 ABY, a group of spacers defeated a giant undead rancor in a cave beneath the Imperial Research and Prison Facility, where the virus had escaped containment, and found a collection of these crystals.
4.10 Bondar Crystals
Bondar crystals transformed the energy of a lightsaber blade into a different form of energy, causing the blade to stun rather than cut. For this reason, bondar crystals were commonly used in training sabers during the era of the Old Republic.
The only known source of bondar crystals was an asteroid in distant orbit around the Alderaan system. When used in a lightsaber, these crystals could briefly stun an opponent if the blade made contact with their flesh.
4.11 Bondara’s Folly
Bondara’s Folly was a unique lightsaber crystal named after the Twi’lek Jedi Master Anoon Bondara. This crystal produced a light-brown blade when used in a lightsaber. Once attuned by a Force-sensitive individual, it became a focusing crystal, usable only in that person’s lightsaber. Following the Battle of Yavin, during the Galactic Civil War, a spacer collected and combined various crystal fragments from across the galaxy to create Bondara’s Folly.
Bondara’s Folly was a brown lightsaber crystal that gave a lightsaber blade a light-brown hue. When properly attuned by a Force-sensitive, it became a focusing crystal, usable only in lightsabers constructed by the individual who tuned it.
4.12 Baas’ Wisdom
Baas’ Wisdom was a rare crystal, infrequently used in lightsaber construction. When employed in combat, it imparted a freezing effect, causing minor frostbite to its target. The crystal also gave a lightsaber blade a distinctive navy blue color.
4.13 Compressed Energy Crystal
A compressed energy crystal, also known as a compressed crystal or CEC, was a type of lightsaber crystal.
CECs were integral to Ves Volette’s light sculptures, where removing the crystal would cause the gaseous light within to collapse. When used in lightsabers, certain compressed crystals gave the energy blade a unique “pulsating” appearance with a thinner core, making the blade appear more precise than standard lightsaber blades.
Examples of compressed energy crystals include Luxum and Corusca gems.
4.13.1 Luxum Crystal
A Luxum crystal was a type of crystal used in lightsaber construction. Originating from Ambria, a planet steeped in dark energies, these crystals formed through deep and prolonged meditation, drawing on the minerals and Force energy found in Lake Natth.
Luxum crystals were particularly effective against droids, giving a lightsaber blade an ion effect when incorporated into its design. These crystals were among the minerals sought by the fugitive Jedi Jax Pavan during his quest to construct a new lightsaber after losing his previous one in a battle with Darth Vader.
4.13.2 Corusca Gems
Corusca gems, also known as Corusca jewels or stones, were incredibly rare and valuable crystals. They formed in the atmospheres of certain gas giants, including Yavin Prime, through a process involving extreme pressures—sufficient to fuse elements together—and the scraping of the planet’s liquefied air against its metallic core. The closer these gems were to the core of Yavin, the larger they became. Corusca gems could only be found in a few specific locations across the galaxy, and their brilliant vibrancy inspired the naming of the galactic capital, Coruscant. The Corusca Gem casino also derived its name from these gems.
Corusca gems were prized primarily for their stunning beauty. Light reflecting within a Corusca gem created the illusion of a glowing furnace inside. This mesmerizing effect made the gems highly sought after, leading to the rise of Corusca gem fishermen like Bash Fateau, who made their living by harvesting these precious stones.
Corusca gems were among the hardest substances known in the galaxy, valued for both industrial and decorative purposes. Large Corusca gems were often mounted on drills for precision drilling in situations where explosives were impractical.
Despite their renowned hardness, Corusca gems had shatterpoints—tiny, vulnerable spots where multiple edges and facets converged. A perfectly timed and precisely delivered tap at one of these shatterpoints could cause the entire gem to crumble.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine once tried to entice Anakin Skywalker with a bag of Corusca gems, suggesting that he could have anything he desired if only he asked. However, Skywalker was uninterested, as his sole focus at the time was preventing the death of his wife, Padmé Amidala, as he had foreseen in a Force vision.
Jacen Solo famously used a Corusca gem, valued at the price of an entire Coruscant city block, to power his lightsaber. He acquired the gem at GemDiver Station, Lando Calrissian’s mining facility. Another Jedi, Ganner Rhysode, also used a Corusca gem in his lightsaber until Jacen Solo destroyed it while feigning allegiance to the Yuuzhan Vong.
4.14 Corrosion Crystal
The Corrosion crystal was a lightsaber crystal used by Starkiller, the clone of Galen Marek. This crystal had a red hue and was classified as a compressed energy crystal. When a lightsaber equipped with a Corrosion crystal made contact with an opponent, it caused them to corrode.
4.15 Cunning of Tyranus
The Cunning of Tyranus was a distinctive red lightsaber crystal named after Count Dooku, the Human Separatist leader known as Darth Tyranus. When incorporated into a lightsaber, it turned the blade red. Once attuned by a Force-sensitive individual, it became a focusing crystal that could only be used in a lightsaber crafted by the person who tuned it.
4.16 Dahgee Crystal
The Dahgee crystal was a lightsaber crystal utilized by the Dahgee Jedi during the era of the Galactic Republic. These crystals produced blades with distinctive properties, featuring a zigzagging pattern, a dark silver core, and a colored aura. They were commonly used in the Dahgee Jedi’s lightsabers.
4.17 Damind
Damind was a type of lightsaber crystal used by the Sith in constructing their lightsabers. It was exclusively found on the planet Daminia, where it was known in its mineral form as damindium. When placed in a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, damind produced a blade that was both wider and longer than a standard lightsaber, enhancing its ability to deflect blaster fire.
4.18 Dantari Crystals
Dantari crystals were a type of lightsaber crystal found on Dantooine, specifically within the eggs of the native kinrath creatures. These crystals were believed to reflect the alignment of their wielder, as seen with the Meetra Surik Crystal. Before the discovery of superior crystals on Ilum, Dantari crystals were highly favored by the Jedi.
4.19 Dawn of Dagobah
The Dawn of Dagobah was a rarely used crystal in lightsaber construction, known for imparting an acidic effect in combat, causing a minor poisoning to opponents.
When used, the Dawn of Dagobah crystal gave the lightsaber blade a unique teal hue.
4.20 Dragite Gems
Dragite gems were small, dull, and fragile kyber crystals found in the D’olop mountain range on the agriworld M’haeli, located in the Expansion Region. Among the most brittle kyber crystals in existence, they were difficult to incorporate into a lightsaber. However, once successfully integrated, they emitted a loud hum and generated a shockwave upon striking a solid target. These shockwaves could disorient or injure the target. Dragite gems were valued at 14,000 credits.
4.21 Durindfire Gem
The Durindfire gem was a valuable crystal discovered on the planet Tatooine. Few Durindfire gems ever left their home planet, though some were acquired and sold by the Galactic Empire to help fund the Death Star project. The Alliance to Restore the Republic was able to track the Empire’s development sites by following the movement of these gems, which also led to the discovery of the TIE Phantom Project’s origins.
A Durindfire gem added a distinctive silver sheen to any lightsaber blade and was traditionally used by the Jedi of the Halcyon/Horn family.
Jawas used Durindfires to create lenses that protected their sensitive, rodent-like eyes from the bright sunlight. However, most other inhabitants of Tatooine were unaware of the gems’ true value, dismissing them as worthless stones found in the desert sands.
4.22 Enhancement Jewel
An enhancement jewel was a spherical component designed for use in a high-resolution projection system alongside a focusing lens. In 23 ABY, the Wookiee Jedi trainee Lowbacca repurposed one of these jewels, scavenged from equipment left by Rebel technicians in the Great Temple on Yavin 4, as the crystal in his lightsaber.
4.23 Eralam
Eralam was a type of lightsaber crystal originally mined on the third moon of the planet Erai, but orbital bombardments by ancient Sith forces made them exceedingly rare. When found, Eralam crystals produced a clear and superior lightsaber beam. The mineral form of this crystal was known as eraladium.
4.24 Etaan Crystals
Etaan crystals were rare lightsaber crystals found exclusively on the Mid Rim planet of Etai. These unusual crystals formed deep within the planet’s crust, typically no higher than 500 meters below the surface, and often deeper than 1,000 meters, making them incredibly difficult to locate. After the destruction of Etai, finding them became nearly impossible.
What set Etaan crystals apart was their unique ability to echo sound with a humming resonance, which aided searchers in locating them. This resonant quality persisted even after the crystals were harvested. When incorporated into a lightsaber hilt, the blade produced by an Etaan crystal would hum in harmony with its motion. In combat, the blade emitted a near-deafening crack and flared with energy when clashing with another lightsaber, a result of the crystal absorbing the energy from the impact.
A lightsaber powered by an Etaan crystal had the unusual ability to draw in and absorb energy from blaster bolts, making the blade glow brighter and grow stronger with each absorbed blast. This resonance effect made the weapon increasingly dangerous as it continued to absorb energy.
4.25 Firkrann Crystals
Firkrann crystals were relatively heavy lightsaber crystals sourced from the planet Rafa V. When embedded in a lightsaber, these crystals imparted an electrical charge to the blade, making it particularly lethal against droids. Firkrann crystals were notably favored by the Dark Lords of the Sith.
4.26 Focus Crystals
When installed in a Jedi’s lightsaber, focus crystals enhanced the Jedi’s connection to the Force, particularly during the exertion of Force energy.
In 1 BBY, the clone of Galen Marek discovered a focus crystal while on Dagobah. Various crystals produced different blade effects. For instance, Kasha crystals from Cerea, the homeworld of Ki-Adi-Mundi, were known to aid in Force attunement and meditation.
4.27 Ghostfire Crystals
Ghostfire crystals were rare lightsaber crystals discovered on select Outer Rim planets. These crystals were sourced exclusively from a unique rock formation located on a limited number of planets. The ghostfire formations consisted of fragile spires of transparent stones, often found atop mountain peaks. When integrated into a lightsaber hilt, these crystals generated a nearly translucent blade that glowed faintly and left behind an illusory afterimage of both the saber and its wielder.
In addition to their colorless appearance, these blades were distinct for their almost complete silence, lacking the iconic hum associated with most lightsabers.
4.28 Heart of the Guardian
The Heart of the Guardian was an ancient crystal rediscovered on the surface of Yavin 4 by the Rodian inventor Suvam Tan sometime before the Jedi Civil War. Possibly used as a lightsaber crystal by the redeemed Revan, it gave any lightsaber it was installed in a distinct bronze hue with a yellow core. The Heart of the Guardian was one of two legendary crystals that Revan might have acquired from Tan near the end of his quest to locate and destroy the Star Forge, the other being the Mantle of the Force.
When placed in a lightsaber, this crystal enhanced the properties of other crystals within the weapon, creating a swift yet powerful blade ideal for lightsaber combat.
The Heart of the Guardian is thought to have played a role in the founding of the Jedi Order. According to Jedi prophecies, it would reappear during a time of great turmoil to help bring salvation to the galaxy. However, the Sith also regarded it as an artifact of their heritage, believing it could bring about their domination of known space.
4.29 Hurrikaine Crystals
Hurrikaine crystals, found on the planet Hurikane, were deep blue to purple lightsaber crystals renowned for their exceptional beauty. When used in lightsabers, these crystals produced blades highly effective at penetrating defenses.
In 58 BBY, a young Mace Windu, then a Padawan, was sent on a mission to Hurikane. After assisting the stone-encrusted native species, Windu was gifted several rare amethyst Hurrikaine crystals, which he used to craft his distinctive electrum lightsaber. A crystal named Windu’s Guile was later created in honor of the Jedi Master.
4.30 Impact Crystals
The impact crystals were a set of yellow lightsaber crystals possessed by a clone of Galen Marek. These crystals enabled the clone to inflict greater damage with his lightsabers. Classified as compressed energy crystals, they emitted a subtle pulsing effect.
4.31 Incineration Crystal
The incineration crystal was a lightsaber crystal used by Galen Marek’s clone, Starkiller. This compressed energy crystal had an orange hue, and when a lightsaber equipped with it made contact with an opponent, it would ignite them in flames, causing significant damage.
4.32 Kaiburr Crystal
The Kaiburr crystal, an ancient Force relic, was first discovered on Circarpous V, also known as Mimban. When situated in its natural setting within the Temple of Pomojema on Mimban, the crystal amplified a Force-sensitive individual’s power by a thousandfold. This amplification enhanced abilities such as healing, strengthening one’s connection to the Force, enabling the projection of Force lightning by those normally unable to do so, and revitalizing those nearby. When cut correctly, the Kaiburr crystal could also be used as a lightsaber crystal.
The Kaiburr crystal was originally used by priests in the Temple of Pomojema to heal the sick. However, for unknown reasons, the temple was abandoned, and the crystal faded into legend among the local Mimbanites.
The crystal remained a myth until around 2 ABY when an elderly woman named Halla purchased a shard of it, along with a map leading to Pomojema’s temple, from one of the Mimbanites. Halla then enlisted the help of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, who were on Mimban following a crash-landing, and aided them in escaping from prison. However, their efforts unknowingly drew the attention of Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, as they began their quest to retrieve the ancient relic.
They eventually reached the temple and discovered the crystal, but Vader had arrived before them. Vader confronted Skywalker and Organa, engaging in a duel with both. He defeated Organa and knocked Skywalker to the ground, but lost his right arm to Skywalker’s lightsaber and ultimately lost the battle, despite the crystal’s power.
Halla handed the Kaiburr crystal to Skywalker, who used its legendary focusing abilities, combined with his innate Force sensitivity, to heal both himself and Organa, who were critically injured from their duels. However, unknown to the group, the crystal lost its power once it left the temple’s proximity and became completely powerless off-planet.
The shard that had sparked the adventure on Mimban remained with Vader until he gifted it to his apprentice, the Dark Lady Lumiya. Luke Skywalker later repurposed the crystal off-planet as a teaching tool when he established his Jedi Praxeum and used it as a lightsaber focusing crystal.
4.33 Kasha Crystal
The kasha was a crystal traditionally used by the Cereans as a tool for meditation. It was employed to clear the mind of distractions, creating an ideal environment for deep meditation. Each face of the crystal was inscribed with patterns to harness its full energy potential, possibly crafted by Bi-Dar Tyunda thousands of years earlier.
When incorporated into a lightsaber, the kasha crystal helped the wielder maintain mental clarity, even in the midst of intense combat.
4.34 Katak Crystals
Katak Crystals were shrouded in mystery, with their origins largely unknown. These crystals were typically found in the lightsabers of dark side Force users. Wielders of this crystal could siphon a portion of the life force from those nearby. While this effect wasn’t immediately debilitating, prolonged exposure could ultimately prove fatal.
4.35 Kenobi’s Legacy
Kenobi’s Legacy was a crystal designed for use in a lightsaber. It required precise tuning before being installed, and once it was integrated into the saber, it could be wielded by no one else.
4.36 Krayt Dragon Pearls
Krayt dragon pearls were lustrous, colorful stones found in the final chamber of a krayt dragon’s gizzard. These stones aided in crushing the creature’s food and, over time, became rounded from constant movement. Pearls could be found in various colors, including blue, green, red, white, and black.
Due to their unique refractive properties, they could be used in a lightsaber if carefully cleaned, prepared, and installed—a challenging process. These pearls were highly prized, often valued at over a hundred thousand credits each, and were seen as proof of having slain a krayt dragon, a symbol of bravery among Tusken Raiders.
Both Common and Greater Krayt Dragons produced pearls, but the pearls from the Greater Krayt were significantly larger and, as a result, much more valuable.
4.37 Kun’s Blood
Kun’s Blood was a lightsaber crystal discovered in the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War. Kun’s Blood was featured in the game Star Wars Galaxies, introduced as part of the raid system in Hotfix 21.4. Although the crystal shares its name with Exar Kun, a Sith Lord from the Old Sith Wars era, the game does not establish any link between the two.
4.38 Lambents
Lambents were a type of crystal harvested by the Yuuzhan Vong. These crystals were actually the fruit of a specific Yuuzhan Vong plant, which thrived on the surface of a planet or within a gravitational field created by dovin basals. Lambent plants would not bear fruit if placed in an artificial gravity well, such as the interdiction fields found on starships or space stations.
When ready to harvest, the lambent was cut from a milky sac concealed behind the plant’s leaves. Before harvesting, the plant needed to be calmed by the harvester or their assistant, typically a non-Yuuzhan Vong slave, through gentle touch. Lambents were used as communication crystals or light sources, capable of being dimmed or brightened by the thoughts of their possessor. They could also be used to sense or detect hidden enemies.
4.39 Lava Crystal
A lava crystal was a lightsaber crystal found exclusively on volcanic planets and moons, such as Mustafar. It produced a blade that resembled molten lava. Unlike typical crystals, the lava crystal was less focused and concentrated, resulting in a dense, heavy blade that emitted extreme heat. This heat caused bits of flame and lava to occasionally splash and drip from the blade. The lava crystal was rumored to be exceptionally powerful.
4.40 Life Drain
Life Drain was a lightsaber crystal wielded by Galen Marek’s clone. This green-hued crystal granted its user the ability to drain the life force of others.
4.41 Lignan Crystals
Lignan crystals were exceptionally powerful lightsaber crystals, crafted from Lignan ore, a material deeply imbued with the dark side of the Force. These crystals allowed a lightsaber blade to burn hotter and last significantly longer than those made with standard crystals, enabling faster cutting through objects.
Lignan crystals also enhanced the Force abilities of dark side users. In one instance, a Sith strike team, armed with Lignan-enhanced lightsabers, was able to cut through thick metal doors more quickly than Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker and his son Ben could escape, forcing them into combat before they could flee.
4.42 Lorrdian Gemstones
Lorrdian gemstones were crystals used to enhance lightsabers. They originated during the Kanz Disorders when the enslaved Lorrdians developed kinetic communication to interact with one another, allowing them to predict the actions of others, including their Argazdan overlords, through keen observation of subtle body language cues.
Some Force-sensitive Lorrdians infused certain gemstones with these predictive abilities. When these gems were installed in a lightsaber, they enabled the user to better read their opponents’ movements, improving their overall defense and enhancing their ability to deflect blaster bolts.
4.43 Mantle of the Force
The Mantle of the Force was a potent crystal, rediscovered by Suvam Tan and later acquired by Revan. It gave lightsabers a cyan hue. Revan purchased this crystal from Suvam Tan near the end of his quest for the Star Forge, along with the Heart of the Guardian, another legendary crystal. When installed in a lightsaber, the Mantle of the Force adapted its properties based on the other crystals present, amplifying the strengths they offered, while consistently enhancing Force abilities.
4.44 Meditation Crystals
Meditation crystals were naturally occurring stones that facilitated deeper meditation. Found on the Deep Core world of Tython, small fragments of these crystals could be embedded in a lightsaber hilt to generate a coherent energy beam and help the wielder maintain a stronger connection to the Force during combat. This enhanced connection allowed the user to conserve energy while fighting rather than depleting it.
Jedi Master Rahm Kota gifted two of these crystals to a clone of the former Sith apprentice Galen Marek on their journey to the Salvation.
4.45 Meetra Surik Crystal
The Meetra Surik Crystal was a naturally formed crystal that developed a unique bond with Jedi Meetra Surik, resonating with her and her connection to the Force. This bond allowed the crystal to take on Surik’s characteristics and enhance her abilities.
After the Jedi Civil War, Surik, who had been exiled from the Jedi Order for her role in the Mandalorian Wars, discovered the crystal within a Force-sensitive cave on the Outer Rim world of Dantooine during her search for Jedi Master Vrook Lamar. When used as a lightsaber focus, the crystal not only ensured that the weapon could only be wielded by Surik but also amplified the effects of the other components and crystals within the lightsaber.
4.46 Nextor
Nextor was a type of crystal sometimes used in lightsaber construction, mined from the mountains of the world M’haeli.
When placed in a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, nextor produced a highly volatile yet powerful blade.
4.47 Opila
Opila was a type of crystal sometimes used in lightsaber construction, mined from an asteroid field in the Fyrth system.
When placed in a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, it produced an intense blade that could swiftly cut through most materials.
4.47.1 Jenruax
Jenruax was a lightsaber crystal refined from Opila and required to be purified of impurities before use.
When placed in a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, Jenruax enhanced the blade’s agility, making it more effective at deflecting blaster fire.
4.48 Permafrost Crystals
Permafrost crystals were rare lightsaber crystals found on the planet Hoth, known for imparting an icy blue hue to lightsaber blades. During the Galactic Civil War, the town of Aurilia on Dathomir held one of these crystals and bestowed it upon a spacer who was instrumental in the Battle of Hoth.
Permafrost crystals had a deep, icy blue coloration, which they transferred to any lightsaber they were integrated into. When a Force-sensitive individual tuned a permafrost crystal for use in a lightsaber, it became a focusing crystal, usable only in lightsabers constructed by the one who tuned it.
4.49 Phond
Phond was an unusual byproduct formed when rare impurities bonded during the creation of certain alloys under mysterious external conditions. This crystal generated a fiercely burning lightsaber blade.
4.50 Qixoni Crystals
Qixoni crystals were extremely rare dark red lightsaber crystals known for their exceptional properties. These crystals were believed to enhance a Force user’s abilities and significantly increase a lightsaber blade’s power.
Qixoni crystals were formed millennia before the Jedi Civil War, when a planet was consumed by its star going supernova. The intense heat and energy caused the planet’s metals and minerals to fuse into crystals, which were then scattered into the Qixoni Nebula when the planet was destroyed.
The few Qixoni crystals obtained by the Jedi were found to be powerful lightsaber focusing crystals. During the First Jedi Purge, Sakarie offered a Qixoni crystal to the Jedi Exile in exchange for a starport visa in Iziz on Onderon.
4.51 Rainbow Gems
Rainbow gems were dazzling treasures that were actually silicon-based lifeforms native to the planet Gallinore.
These gems took thousands of years to mature, emitting a glow from their inner light. Despite their biological origin, rainbow gems could be used as lightsaber crystals. Tenel Ka Djo, the Princess of Hapes, owned a tiara made of rainbow gems valued at the price of an entire solar system. She incorporated some of these gems into her second lightsaber after her first one malfunctioned, leading to the loss of her arm.
Highly prized for their value, rainbow gems were often set in medallions, with just one being worth the price of a Calamarian cruiser. Due to their immense value and untraceable nature, they were used as part of a Huttese bribe to Admiral Winstel Greelanx in exchange for the battle plans for his upcoming assault on Nar Shaddaa. The bribe, consisting of these precious gems, was delivered by a young Han Solo.
4.52 Rubat
Rubat was a type of kyber crystal employed in crafting lightsabers, with the planet Phemis being the sole known location where rubat could be found.
When incorporated into a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, rubat enhanced the blade’s sharpness and definition, making it easier for the wielder to track and accurately strike opponents. Additionally, the crystal contributed to quicker attack speeds.
The distribution and use of rubat were regulated by the Galactic Senate and later by the Galactic Empire. Initially, the Jedi Order exclusively utilized rubats before transitioning to crystals from Ilum.
4.53 Ruusan Crystals
Ruusan crystals originated from the Mid Rim planet Ruusan. Though they did not directly enhance a lightsaber’s performance, they helped a Jedi in concentrating and channeling the Force. These crystals were lost after the Ruusan Reformation.
4.54 Sapith
Sapith was a crystal sometimes used in lightsaber construction, excreted by the now-extinct Volice worm, a creature native to the Ssi-ruuvi homeworld of Lwhekk, once every eleven standard years.
When placed in a lightsaber’s crystal chamber, sapith produced an intense blade that was easier to control than most other lightsaber blades.
4.55 Sigil Crystal
The Sigil crystal, mined in the Sigil system, was expensive but highly valued for the searing effect it created when correctly integrated into a lightsaber. Naturally brownish-yellow in color, the crystal produced an exceptionally powerful beam that inflicted greater damage. Both the Jedi Nemo and the Sith Lord Marka Ragnos possessed such a crystal.
4.56 Solari Crystal
The Solari crystal was among the oldest and most potent lightsaber crystals within the Jedi Order. This light orange gem could only be wielded by a Jedi with a pure spirit and unwavering devotion to the light side of the Force. It was impervious to corruption by the dark side, and its bearer had to maintain a pure heart for it to remain effective.
4.57 Stygium
Stygium was a rare crystal found exclusively on Aeten II, 244Core, and Maramere.
In 22 BBY, the Galactic Republic enacted a law to regulate the trade of stygium crystals due to their unique ability to render vehicles completely invisible when used correctly. In the early years of the Galactic Republic, cloaking devices powered by stygium were common, as Aeten II had a plentiful supply of the crystals. Notably, the Scimitar, Darth Maul’s ship, was equipped with numerous stygium crystals along its long prow.
Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, known as Starkiller, also utilized stygium crystals in his ship, the Rogue Shadow, which was outfitted with a cloaking device.
During the period from the capture of the Tantive IV to the Battle of Endor, Grand Admiral Martio Batch deployed an Imperial superweapon, the Tarkin, to Aeten II. The Tarkin shattered the planet, exposing its stygium core.
With these crystals and the original stygium technology, Batch initiated the Phantom TIE project. However, Rebel Alliance saboteurs destroyed the project, forcing Batch to flee. The use of stygium crystals declined after the formation of the New Republic, though they remained available from Aeten II.
Additionally, Maramere had an entire island composed of stygium crystals, making it invisible to scanners. The island, shrouded in the fog of the Haunted Strait, was also invisible to the naked eye, making it an ideal hideout for Sol Sixxa.
In its pure crystal form, stygium was suitable for use in lightsabers. When refined and mounted on a personalized lightsaber, the crystal’s natural cloaking properties enhanced a stealth-minded Jedi’s ability to remain unseen.
4.58 Sunrider’s Destiny
Sunrider’s Destiny was a rare aquamarine lightsaber crystal bestowed upon a Force-sensitive individual by Captain Sarguillo in the village of Aurilia on Dathomir during the Galactic Civil War. Once this crystal was finely tuned for use in a lightsaber, only the individual who performed the tuning could wield that particular lightsaber. When activated, the crystal produced a teal-colored blade.
4.59 Synthetic Lightsaber Crystals
A synthetic lightsaber crystal was a type of lightsaber crystal that was artificially created rather than naturally formed through geological processes. These crystals typically had a red coloration due to the methods used in their creation, although they could be made in any color by altering the creation process or the crystal itself, often through the Force. For example, Luke Skywalker’s second lightsaber was powered by a green Synth-crystal.
4.60 Upari
Upari was a type of lightsaber crystal typically found scattered in the orbits of forest worlds. Although brittle, it was highly versatile, allowing a Jedi Master to harness various effects from it. On Kashyyyk, a Wookiee clan could cut an Upari stone for use as decorative jewelry, and this cutting process enhanced the crystal’s power.
4.61 Ulic’s Redemption
Ulic’s Redemption was a lightsaber crystal discovered in the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War. This crystal made its appearance in the video game Star Wars Galaxies, introduced as part of the raid system in Hotfix 21.4. In certain instances within the game, it was mistakenly referred to as “Ulric’s Redemption.” The crystal’s name is reminiscent of Ulic Qel-Droma, a Jedi who fell to the dark side and later returned to the light during the Old Republic era. However, the game did not explicitly link the crystal to Ulic Qel-Droma.
4.62 Ultima Pearls
Ultima Pearls were rare, silvery, and lustrous spherical gems found on the deep ocean floor of Dac, sometimes used as lightsaber crystals. Installing an Ultima Pearl required significant skill. Jedi Master Cilghal incorporated one into her lightsaber.
4.63 Velmorite
Velmorite was a yellow lightsaber crystal exclusive to the planet Velmor. It was primarily used to craft high-quality Velmorite energy swords, though it had other potential applications. When incorporated into a lightsaber, the crystal produced a fine, thin blade ideal for graceful and fluid combat.
4.64 Vexxtal Crystals
Vexxtal Crystals and their origins remain largely unknown. They are typically found in the lightsabers of dark side Force users and inflict a corrupting aura on those injured by a blade containing this crystal.
4.65 Windu’s Guile
Windu’s Guile was a rare variant of the Hurrikaine crystal, named in honor of the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu, a member of the Jedi Council during the last years of the Galactic Republic. These violet crystals could be used in lightsaber construction.
Throughout the Galactic Civil War, Windu’s Guile crystals found use among Force-sensitive individuals on both sides of the conflict, serving those aligned with the Rebel Alliance as well as the Galactic Empire.
External Sources
- Kyber Crystal (Lightsaber Crystal) – StarWars.com
- Lightsaber crystal | Wookieepedia – Fandom
- Synthetic lightsaber crystal – Wookieepedia
- Synthetic kyber crystal | Wookieepedia – Fandom
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Tony Allen is a writer for LightsabersBlog.com, a website focused on everything related to lightsabers. Tony grew up in Austin, Texas, and went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas. Passionate about science fiction and fantasy, Tony has always been deeply involved in hobbies like tabletop RPGs, sci-fi novels, miniature painting, and crafting. This love for creative pursuits drives Tony to write about lightsabers in a way that ignites the imagination of fans around the world.