Can a Jedi Have a Darksaber?

The black lightsaber, better known as the Darksaber, is among the most unique of its kind in Star Wars. Given its rarity, I’m sure you’re wondering who can and cannot wield the Darksaber. The answer is more complex than you think. 

A Jedi can have a black lightsaber because the Darksaber was made by a Jedi. Tarre Vizsla was the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order. To distinguish his lightsaber from others, his black lightsaber, better known as the Darksaber, featured Mandalorian flair. 

Is It Possible To Have a Black Lightsaber?

The Darksaber is the only known black lightsaber in the galaxy. Black is not a typical color for a Jedi lightsaber; they are often green, yellow, and blue. 

Tarre Vizsla, the Jedi Order’s only Mandalorian, created the Darksaber and it bears a distinct look from a typical lightsaber. While lightsabers are longer and thinner at the blade, Vizsla’s Darksaber comprises a shorter, thicker blade that better resembles a traditional sword. 

The blade also does not contain an energy beam like a lightsaber. Instead, it is a plasma blade, which is tough for a lightsaber to defeat. Since the blade draws lightsabers into it, anyone who brandishes the Darksaber is almost always protected from lightsaber attacks. 

Darksaber As a Status Symbol

Unlike the lightsaber, the Darksaber also grants the wielder a sense of status. Anyone who wins the Darksaber in a duel will become the Mand’alor, who rules the Mandalorians.

Since the Darksaber gives its wielder the opportunity to rule, its history is a bloody one. Following Vizsla’s death, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant served as the Darksaber’s home. 

However, House Vizsla raided the Jedi Temple and took possession of it. In The Mandalorian, Moff Gideon possessed it before he lost it to Din Djarin. 

Anyone Can Have The Darksaber

Something unique about the Darksaber is, despite its rarity, its wielder does not have to be Force-sensitive. Instead, the Darksaber’s crystal forges a connection with its current user, whether it is a Mandalorian, a Jedi, or someone who cannot wield the Force. 

Therefore, it is possible for a Jedi to have a black lightsaber. But the Darksaber is the only known black lightsaber in existence. 

Can a Jedi Have a Black Lightsaber? 

Tarre Vizsla held the distinction of being the first Mandalorian in the Jedi Order. And to make things more unique for himself, he crafted the Darksaber with a Mandalorian flair, complete with a Beskar hilt. 

Vizsla was a gifted Jedi, with everyone from the citizens of Mandalore to the Jedi Order praising his leadership and fighting ability. 

While no other Jedi has ever made a black lightsaber, any Jedi can wield the Darksaber if they win it from its incumbent wielder. When the Jedi took possession of the Darksaber following Tarre Vizsla’s death, no one in the Order technically owned it because they did not win it in battle. 

Jedi/Sith Who Wielded The Darksaber  

Jedi Knight and Order 66 survivor Kanan Jarrus held the Darksaber when his Mandalorian friend Sabine Wren gave it to him. She did not want to bear the burden of ruling Mandalore. 

Jarrus had no plans to use the Darksaber. And when he discovered more about the mysterious relic, he handed it back to Sabine. 

While Darth Maul was not a Jedi, he was a powerful Force-sensitive well-versed in the dark side. Maul realized what kind of power he could hold if he won the Darksaber from his would-be ally, Pre Vizsla. After defeating Vizsla in a duel, Maul took the Darksaber. 

Darksaber vs. Lightsaber

Now that you know who can have the Darksaber and what the weapon is capable of, you might be wondering whether the Darksaber is more powerful than a lightsaber. 

The short answer is: Both weapons have their strengths and weaknesses, so it depends on who is brandishing which weapon.

If there is one distinguishing characteristic of the Darksaber’s strength, it’s that it can heat Beskar. A regular lightsaber cannot. The Darksaber’s powerful ability was shown during the epic duel between Din Djarin and Moff Gideon. 

Shifting gears to Ahsoka Tano’s duel against the Magistrate, her white-bladed lightsabers were unable to heat Beskar. 

Further, any being in Star Wars can wield the Darksaber, provided they win it from another. The Darksaber’s crystal forges a bond with whoever is in possession of it. Lightsabers strengthen their bond with their original Force-sensitive wielder. 

The Darksaber can also grow heavier with each swing if the user does not know how to properly utilize the weapon. The user must learn to work with the Darksaber’s power current. This is not the case with lightsabers. 

The Better Weapon Varies

There is no true right or wrong answer in which weapon is more powerful. It is really up to the user and their dedication to learning how to maximize their unique abilities. For some, the Darksaber is more powerful. But for others, the lightsaber is the better bet. 

For example, Yoda spent centuries forging a strong connection with his green-bladed Shoto. He would, if given the choice, have no reason to switch to the Darksaber. Maul also proved he was better off with his double-bladed saber, given all of his mishaps with the Darksaber. 

However, a non-Force-sensitive is better off with the Darksaber, assuming they learn how to wield it properly. 

If they manage to, the Darksaber’s power current will refrain from growing heavier with each stroke. And if they become well-versed with the weapon their overall power could threaten to match that of a powerful Force-wielder.