With seven lightsaber forms officially defined by the Jedi Order and an additional form, Jar’Kai, there are plenty to choose from when engaging in battle. Any good lightsaber user will train mainly with the form that serves them best, so which is the best for a double-bladed lightsaber?
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Jar’Kai
Jar’Kai is what wielding two lightsabers is called, so strictly speaking anyone using two lightsabers always uses this. The use of a double-bladed lightsaber is just an extension of this form.
There were particularly strong showcases of this form as well, like Jedi Master Pong Krell. Being a besalisk, he had four arms which he would use to use two double-bladed lightsabers!
The form was no stranger to the Dark Side either! General Grievous used his cybernetic body to wield up to four lightsabers at a time.
Form 6
Another popular choice for double-bladed lightsaber users was Form 6, Niman (knee-mahn). This form focused on a balance between using physical dueling skills and using the Force.
Using the Force to change the environment or manipulate the opponent made this form great for double-bladed lightsabers! Using the Force opened up new avenues of attack that would have normally been inaccessible for a relatively less agile double-bladed lightsaber.
Form 7
Harnessing the power of unadulterated emotion, Form 7 was often favored by the Sith. Juyo (joo-yo) utilized absolute strength and chaotic attacks to obliterate opponents.
For a double-bladed lightsaber user this form offered an advantage over even the most defensive enemies. It was used extensively by the Sith Lord Darth Maul and led to many of his victories.
Would a Double-Bladed Lightsaber be Perfect for Form 3?
It’s clear that double-bladed lightsabers are aided by focusing on a strong offense. But what about those that prefer to defend?
For defense-inclined users, Form 3 was the perfect choice for using a double-bladed lightsaber!
Pros
In Form 3, users defend themselves by keeping their lightsaber close to them and finely controlling it to block incoming attacks. Using a double-bladed lightsaber would effectively double the area that one could defend with.
This pairing is especially powerful when used against incoming blaster fire.
A normal lightsaber could defend against it using precise movements; A double-bladed lightsaber, however, could be spun to block a much wider area with less focus on individual bolts.
Not only that, since using Form 3 could defend against multiple assailants the use of a double-bladed lightsaber was especially useful. Where with one blade a user would have to be mindful of switching between both sides, a double-blade could effectively defend both at once.
No matter how effectively Form 3 could be used, however, it was only useful if the user made no mistakes. Form 3 is powerful but could be the cause for defeat with even one mistake.
Cons
Although it seems like a double-bladed lightsaber would always be an advantage, this isn’t necessarily the case!
While having two blades means being able to attack with twice as much power, it also means keeping track of twice as much. This in particular is why it’s important for someone to train with and master Jar’Kai before using it in a battle.
Another quirk of double-bladed lightsabers is separate from an individual’s skill: building the lightsaber itself. It’s said that to defeat your enemy you must know them first; Knowing your enemy’s weapon is no exception.
Kanan Jarrus put this concept into action in his battle with the Grand Inquisitor.
The Grand Inquisitor had a double-bladed lightsaber which could rotate around the hilt.
As a necessary feature, the grip was surrounded by a circle that left an open and undefended space. Jarrus could take advantage of this, putting his lightsaber blade in this gap and destroying the Grand Inquisitor’s lightsaber.
This battle demonstrates the consequences of slipping up while using Form 3: One small error can be a user’s downfall.
Does it work?
The downsides of this form primarily exist when the user makes an error in using it. Otherwise, Form 3 is a formidable pairing to a double-bladed lightsaber.
There is no better example of this than the Grand Inquisitor, a master swordsman with a custom double-bladed lightsaber. The use of Form 3 in combination with his lightsaber was an asset to winning many of his battles.
Although it would take practice, mastery over Form 3 and a double-bladed lightsaber is a lethally perfect pairing.
What Exactly are the Advantages of Using a Double-Bladed Lightsaber in Combat in Star Wars?
We’ve taken a look at the advantages of a double-bladed lightsaber with Form 3, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. What if we open our field of view to any and all forms?
Although Form 3 is a great pairing with a double-bladed lightsaber, it is far from the only useful form!
Absolute Power
A regular lightsaber is already a lethal threat when used unhinged, so what happens when you add another blade into the equation?
When you look at the people who used double-bladed lightsabers, they seem to skew towards the Dark Side. That’s no coincidence, the Dark Side favors power and double-bladed lightsabers offer just that: Absolute power.
Even the most defensive opponents could be swiftly overwhelmed by sheer force. This fact is more than doubled by the use of a double-bladed lightsaber.
Before an opponent would only need to focus on a single blade, they now must focus on two. Not only does this present an objective challenge but also a subjective one!
Controlling and dominating your opponent’s perception is key to lightsaber forms such as Form 2, Makashi. Two blades not only physically change the battle, they change how the opponent thinks as well.
Having control over your opponent like this is a fantastic advantage, but it is far from the only one that a double-bladed lightsaber provides!
Surface Area
The logic that a double-bladed lightsaber has more surface area is straightforward. Still, this property can be maximized and go much further than the sum of its parts.
Where a regular lightsaber could be used to cover an area larger than the blade itself, a double-bladed one could more than double that!
The design of these lightsabers allowed the user to spin the blades around a central point. This could be done manually through careful handwork, or it could be automated mechanically; The Grand Inquisitor’s lightsaber could do just that.
Although this property of the lightsaber was often used for defense, there was nothing stopping it from being offensive as well.
There is no stronger example of this than Darth Maul. Using his double-bladed lightsaber, Maul favored the use of Form IV, Ataru, which capitalized on aggression.
Maul’s use of this form was further strengthened by fluid motions that preserved the momentum of his attacks. This is shown clearly in his fight with Ahsoka, for example.
Versatility
Traditionally, all lightsabers are an expression and extension of the user that builds them. Double-bladed lightsabers highlight this property and expand upon it.
Sith Lord Savage Opress used a double-bladed lightsaber very similar to the one used by Darth Maul. Similar to Maul, Opress almost exclusively used it with both blades ignited.
The lightsabers of Asajj Ventress’ were modeled after Count Dooku’s curved hilt with a slight but important alteration. By her design, Ventress’ lightsabers were capable of being joined by the pommel to create a curved variety of double-bladed lightsaber.
One of the most creative uses of a double-bladed lightsaber’s versatility was the lightsabers of the fearsome Imperial Inquisitors. Their lightsabers had a unique design that allowed the blade emitters to detach from the fixed hilt and spin around an outer rail surrounding it.
Do any Jedi use Double-Bladed Lightsabers?
There is a bias towards Dark Side-users wielding double-bladed lightsabers, but this is only a trend and not an absolute rule. Though it was rare, some Jedi were known to wield this type of lightsaber.
Jedi Temple Guards
One of the most notable examples of Jedi using double-bladed lightsabers were the guardians of the Jedi temple on Coruscant. They bore distinct and unanimous lightsaber pikes which ignited with rare yellow blades.
Although most of these lightsabers were basic in their design, not all were! A rare variety of the Jedi Temple Guards’ pike was hinged and could be collapsed for easier carrying.
Pong Krell
As a Jedi General during the Clone Wars, Pong Krell was a powerful foe to come up against. His immense skill and power was made even stronger by the use of his double-bladed lightsabers.
Having four arms, Pong Krell was capable of wielding two separate double-bladed lightsabers. These lightsabers were hinged and could be folded to make them easier to carry.
The hinged design of his lightsabers were the first of their kind to be shown in Star Wars.
Cal Kestis
Cal Kestis was a Jedi Knight who lived during the time of the Galactic Empire. Although he originally used a single-bladed lightsaber, he lost it during a battle with clone troopers.
Later, he would go to collect a new kyber crystal to use in building a new lightsaber. On Ilum he found a crystal that had been split in half.
Using the split crystal, Cal Kestis built a double-bladed lightsaber which could be split into two separate blades. The design he chose was similar to that of Jaro Tapal’s, whom Cal trained under.
Jaro Tapal
Jaro Tapal was a Jedi Master during the Clone Wars and the master who taught Cal Kestis. He used a fixed double-bladed lightsaber.
During the slaughter of Order 66, Jaro Tapal passed on his lightsaber to Cal Kestis. Kestis would go on to use it until the destruction of the kyber crystal while he was on Dathomir.