Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, with its distinctive crossguard design and unstable, crackling blade, stands as a symbol of his complex journey from Ben Solo, a Jedi Padawan, to the dark side as Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader of the First Order and master of the Knights of Ren.
This iconic weapon’s transformation is deeply intertwined with Ren’s own shift in allegiance and identity.
Table of Contents
1. From Jedi to Sith: The Transformation
Originally constructed by Ben Solo during his time as a Jedi Padawan under the tutelage of his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, the lightsaber emitted a blue plasma blade, powered by a kyber crystal and a diatium power cell within its grip.
However, after leaving Luke’s Jedi academy in ruins, Ben Solo’s path toward the dark side was marked by a significant transformation of his Jedi weapon into a Sith lightsaber.
2. The Bleeding of the Kyber Crystal
Under the influence of Palpatine, through Snoke, Ben Solo was instructed to bleed his lightsaber’s kyber crystal, a rite of passage for Sith that involved channeling one’s negative emotions into the crystal.
This process resulted in the crystal cracking in two, altering the blade’s color to red and giving it a distinctive unstable and serrated appearance.
The damaged crystal necessitated the design modification to include lateral vents to prevent overload, resulting in the creation of a crossguard lightsaber.
3. The Crossguard Design
Kylo Ren’s lightsaber features a crossguard design, an ancient style dating back to the times of Darth Atrius and the Great Scourge of Malachor.
This design not only serves a practical purpose—diverting the excess heat generated by the cracked crystal—but also symbolizes Ren’s raw and untamed power.
The quillon emitters split the lightsaber’s plasma stream into three channels, creating the unique appearance of the weapon.
4. Symbolism and Significance
The transformation of Ben Solo’s lightsaber into Kylo Ren’s crossguard weapon is rich with symbolism. It reflects his tumultuous journey, marked by destruction, transformation, and a struggle with his identity.
The unstable and volatile nature of the lightsaber, much like Ren’s own power in the Force, underscores his inner conflict and the remnants of the light side within him.
Despite its crudely assembled appearance suggesting inexperience, Ren’s capability to repair his weapon indicates a choice to embrace its imperfections, mirroring his acceptance of his own complex nature.