The modernStar Warscanon has a way to turn lightsabers into deadly explosives. Lightsabers are one of the most recognizable items in the franchise, and while mostStar Warsproperties feature them, they are relatively rare in-universe. Lightsabers are the signature weapons of the Jedi Knights and theSith Lords, but some Force-using traditions – such as the Prophets of the Dark Side in the Legends continuity and theKnights of Renin the modern canon – also use the weapons. In both continuities, lightsabers are powered by Force-imbued crystals.
In the original Legends continuity,lightsaber crystals came in a variety of colors, types, and variants, with a gem’s color determining the lightsaber’s blade color. Traditionally, Jedi used naturally occurring lightsaber crystals, like the blue and green Adegan crystals found on Ilum. In the modern canon’s reimagining of lightsaber lore, Jedi continue to use natural lightsaber crystals – now calledKyber crystals– but the gems are initially clear before changing to a specific color upon bonding with a Jedi-in-training. Synthetic lightsaber crystals exist in both the modern canon and Legends continuities, but the two iterations are quite different.
Synthetic Crystals Turn Lightsabers Into Bombs
In the modern canon, synthetic Kyber crystals are extremely unstable, even more so than cracked Kyber crystals, like the one found in Kylo Ren’s lightsaber. While the modernStar Warscanon has yet to elaborate on how synthetic Kyber crystals are made, what it makes clear is that the gems are unfit for use in lightsabers.A synthetic Kyber crystal is highly susceptible to exploding, making a lightsaber powered by one essentially a bomb.
The crossguard on Kylo Ren’s lightsaber not only gives the weapon an additional offensive and defensive edge, but it also stabilizes the blade generated by the cracked Kyber crystal.
In Legends, Luke’s Lightsaber Was POWERED By A Synthetic Crystal
In their original incarnationin the Legends continuity, however, synthetic lightsaber crystals are perfectly safe to use. Synthetic lightsaber crystals debuted in Steve Perry’s 1996 novelShadows of the Empire, with Luke Skywalker building his iconic green-bladed lightsaber with one such gem. With natural sources of lightsaber crystals all but destroyed by the Empire, Luke had no choice but to create one, using instructions left for him by the late Obi-Wan Kenobi. Traditionally, the Sith Lords used synthetic crystals almost exclusively, and all Sith Lords in the original and prequelStar Warsmovies use red-bladed lightsabers powered by them.
Star Wars: Every Lightsaber Crystal In Canon & Legends Explained (Not Just Kyber)
Kyber may be the most famous substance used to power a lightsaber, but there are many other gems and jewels that can channel its power as well.
Synthetic lightsaber crystals are created using a combination of machinery and the Force, though Sith, of course, use the dark side to craft their crystals. Jedi typically frowned on the creation of synthetic crystals (outside of emergencies), but with so few natural lightsaber crystals left by the end of the original trilogy era, they became far more widely used out of necessity. In theStar WarsLegends continuity,nearly every lightsaber built and used by Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order is powered by synthetic lightsaber crystals.
August 18, 2025
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
