A red lightsaber, sometimes called a crimson lightsaber, is a lightsaber color associated with dark side users in Star Wars Canon and Star Wars Legends. Dark side adepts, including Sith Lords and Inquisitors and Dark Jedi, almost exclusively wield red-bladed lightsabers. Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Darth Sidious and Darth Maul are notable wielders of red-bladed lightsabers.
RELATED LIGHTSABER SELLERS affiliate links
If you purchase an item through these links, SaberSourcing receives some money at no cost to you.
Etsy Lightsabers
Amazon Lightsabers
eBay Lightsabers
Red Lightsabers in Star Wars Canon
Many dark side adepts wield red bladed lightsabers in Star Wars Canon. A corrupted kyber crystal is the reason why a lightsaber to emit a red blade. The process of corrupting the crystal, called bleeding the kyber crystal, allows a dark side user to bend the kyber crystal to their will.
Kyber crystals are naturally aligned with the light side of the Force, and unlike dark side users, light side Force users bond with their kyber crystal rather than corrupt their kyber crystal. Since kyber crystals resist corrupting, bleeding the crystal requires the Force user to channel their hate, anger and fear into the crystal.
Red Lightsabers in Star Wars Legends
In Star Wars Legends, dark side users often wield red-bladed lightsabers equipped with synthetic kyber crystals, sometimes called synth-crystals. Synth-crystals, which are artificially created and are commonly red in color, create a powerful lightsaber blade.
Jedi Master Adi Gallia wields a crimson lightsaber for a time during Star Wars Legends. Gallia is one of the few Jedi depicted wielding a crimson-bladed lightsaber.
Red Lightsabers in Real Life
Many officially licensed, real life red lightsabers have been made, ranging from toys with telescoping plastic blades up to higher-end light-up sound sabers, including: Force FX lightsabers, legacy lightsabers, and Savi’s Workshop lightsabers. Most officially licensed red lightsabers are character inspired (e.g. Darth Vader lightsaber, Darth Maul lightsaber, Asajj Ventress lightsaber, etc.).
Red Lightsaber Color Theory
Red is a vibrant and emotionally intense color associated with anger, passion, blood, danger, and power.
List of Red Lightsaber Wielders
Star Wars Canon
• Most dark side users (e.g. Sith Lords, Inquisitors, Dark Jedi, etc.)
• Kylo Ren lightsaber
• Darth Maul lightsaber
• Darth Sidious lightsaber
• Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku) lightsaber
• Darth Vader lightsaber
• Asajj Ventress lightsaber
• Darth Atrius lightsabers (pair of ancient crossguard lightsabers)
• Taron Malicos lightsabers (pair of lightsabers)
• Darth Noctyss lightsaber
Inquisitor lightsabers
• Fifth Brother lightsaber (double-bladed spinning lightsaber)
• Eighth Brother lightsaber (double-bladed spinning lightsaber)
• Tenth Brother lightsabers (pair of shoto lightsabers)
Star Wars Legends
• Most dark side users (e.g. Sith Lords, Inquisitors, Dark Jedi, etc.)
• Jedi Master Adi Gallia (crimson lightsaber)
• Darth Angral lightsaber
• Darth Atroxa lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber)
• Darth Azard lightsaber (curved-hilt)
• Darth Bandon lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber, double-bladed)
• Lord Calypho lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber)
• Darth Chratis lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber, long-handled)
• Darth Desolous lightsaber
• Fanoste lightsaber
• Sharad Hett lightsaber (Tusken Jedi)
• Lord Skere Kaan lightsaber
• Darth Kruhl lightsaber
• Darth Lachris lightsaber
• Darth Maladi lightsaber (One Sith lightsaber)
• Darth Maleval lightsaber (One Sith lightsaber)
• Darth Malora lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber)
• Darth Plagueis lightsaber
• Darth Reave lightsabers (pair of lightsabers)
• Darth Stryfe lightsaber (One Sith lightsaber)
• Darth Tenebrous lightsaber
• Darth Vengean lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber)
• Lord Vindican lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber, double-bladed)
• Uthar Wynn lightsaber (double-bladed lightsaber)
• Darth Zash lightsaber (SWTOR lightsaber)
