Wait, Jedi with red lightsabers? I didn’t believe it either, but turns out it’s legit.
Adi Gallia had one for a mission, Sharad Hett’s reflected his struggle with the dark side, and even Luke Skywalker built one to counter a Sith lightwhip.
I went down this rabbit hole, and now I’ll never look at lightsabers the same way.
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Adi Gallia Constructs a Red Lightsaber
We don’t often see Jedi wielding red lightsabers, but Adi Gallia was different. She wasn’t one to stick to tradition just because it was expected—she made choices based on what would get the job done. That’s why, for a time, she carried a red-bladed lightsaber.
During the final years of the Republic, before the events of The Phantom Menace, the Sith were believed to be extinct. This was a time when the Jedi Order operated with the assumption that no dark-side Force users posed a significant threat to the galaxy. It was during this era—roughly in the decades leading up to 32 BBY—that Adi Gallia carried a red-bladed lightsaber.
Without the looming presence of the Sith, red wasn’t inherently seen as an evil color, making it a practical choice for her missions. However, once Darth Maul revealed himself and proved the Sith were still active, she discarded the red crystal in favor of a traditional blue one, reinforcing her alignment with Jedi values in the face of this new threat.
When Adi Gallia and Eeth Koth set out to stop the criminal Olmar Grahrk, using a red blade helped her blend in and gain trust in ways a traditional Jedi couldn’t.
I can only imagine the reactions from other Jedi when they found out. Many of them saw red lightsabers as dangerous symbols of the dark side, even if the Sith weren’t around anymore. Some probably thought she was playing with fire, but for Adi, it was about practicality, not symbolism.
Everything changed when Darth Maul appeared, proving the Sith were still very much a threat. That’s when she switched her red crystal for a blue one, aligning herself with the Order’s traditions once more. It wasn’t about regret—it was about recognizing the new reality they were all facing.
Sharad Hett Chooses a Red Lightsaber on Tatooine
Sharad Hett’s story has always stood out to me. He didn’t just leave the Jedi Order—he walked away from everything he once believed in and carved out a new identity among the Tusken Raiders on Tatooine. We don’t often see Jedi take such an extreme path, but Hett fully embraced his new life, even rising to the rank of warlord.
During this time, he carried a crimson-bladed lightsaber, a choice that says a lot about where he was mentally. That red blade wasn’t just a weapon—it was a statement. It represented the anger, grief, and conflict he carried, the tension between his Jedi past and the warrior he had become. We know he led raids, but he wasn’t completely lost to darkness. That red saber was a constant reminder of how easily he could tip over the edge.
His past eventually caught up with him in 32 BBY when reports of a Tusken Raider wielding a lightsaber reached the Jedi Temple. That was enough for the Jedi to recognize him—his reputation and that distinct lightsaber made it obvious.
Hett’s final stand came when he faced Aurra Sing. He fought hard, but in the end, she struck him down. Before becoming one with the Force, he passed his lightsaber to his son, A’Sharad Hett. That blade didn’t just vanish into history—it played a role in the Clone Wars, and A’Sharad himself would later fall to the dark side, becoming Darth Krayt.
Luke Skywalker Builds a Red Lightsaber Shoto
Luke Skywalker with a red lightsaber? That’s not something we see every day, but it did happen—and not for the reasons you might think.
During his battles with Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, Luke had to find a way to counter her lightwhip, a weapon that was nearly impossible to block with a standard lightsaber. So, he built a red-bladed shoto—a shorter secondary weapon—to level the playing field. It wasn’t about turning to the dark side; it was just the smartest way to fight her on equal terms.
This moment shows exactly what makes Luke such a great Jedi. He wasn’t bound by tradition or symbolism—he focused on what worked. At the end of the day, a lightsaber’s color doesn’t define a Jedi. It’s how they use it that matters.
Agen Kolar’s First Lightsaber Had a Red Blade
Agen Kolar is one of the few Jedi Council members known to have wielded a red lightsaber. He was a skilled warrior who didn’t just sit in the Council chambers—he actively fought on the front lines when duty called.
If you’ve seen the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars series, you might remember the moment when Kolar fought alongside other Jedi while wielding a red lightsaber. It’s a rare sight, and one that stands out in Star Wars history.
According to Star Wars fandom, Kolar initially used a red-bladed lightsaber before eventually switching to a blue one. While the reason for this change isn’t fully detailed, it adds another layer to his already impressive legacy.