What’s the History Behind Darth Revan’s Lightsabers?

I’ve always thought Sith Lords looked intimidating with their crimson lightsabers. But Darth Revan is on another level. 

Starting as a Jedi, falling to the dark side, and eventually returning to the light, his journey is unmatched. What really sets him apart are his lightsabers—one purple and one red. 

There’s something about that combination that makes him unforgettable among the Sith Lords. 

I can’t wait to get into what makes these sabers so iconic.

The Evolution of Darth Revan’s Lightsaber

Blue Lightsaber: Jedi Knight Era

In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003), we first meet Revan as a Jedi Knight, wielding a blue-bladed lightsaber. 

The blue blade stands as a symbol of his loyalty to the Jedi Order and his dedication to the light side of the Force. 

While the game lets you customize Revan’s lightsaber to suit your preferences, the canonical choice ties him to this iconic blue—a reflection of his early Jedi identity.

Red Lightsaber: Sith Lord Ascension

Then as the journey of Revan a Jedi Knight, he leading the Republic forces to victory against the Madalorians.

But after the war, his journey took a darker turn. Alongside his apprentice, Malak, Revan ventured into the unknown regions, drawn by the shadow of the mysterious Sith Emperor. 

It was there that the two fell under the Emperor’s control, succumbing to the dark side and rising as Sith Lords.

Taking the title of Darth Revan, and much like iconic figures such as Anakin Skywalker or Count Dooku, Revan constructed a red lightsaber—an unmistakable symbol of the Sith and his allegiance to their cause.

Together with Malak, Revan brought chaos to the galaxy, turning the Republic’s own forces against them in a war that left devastation in its wake.

However, Revan’s reign as the Dark Lord of the Sith was not destined to last forever.

Green Lightsaber: Post-Amnesia Redemption

After leading a devastating campaign against the Republic as Darth Revan, the tide turned during the Jedi’s desperate effort to end his reign. 

The Jedi Council devised a plan to capture Revan, targeting him on his flagship. Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, known for her exceptional battle meditation abilities, played a crucial role in the mission.

As Revan’s ship was attacked, Bastila and a team of Jedi boarded the vessel. In a critical confrontation, Bastila managed to engage Revan in battle. 

Darth Malak, seeking to seize the mantle of the Dark Lord for himself, betrayed Revan by ordering his own forces to fire upon Revan’s ship. This surprise attack left Revan severely injured and unconscious.

Bastila and the Jedi rescued the wounded Revan and brought him back to the Jedi Council. 

Recognizing an opportunity for redemption, the Council decided to wipe Revan’s memory, giving him a new identity and a chance to start over as a Jedi. 

Revan was given a green lightsaber, symbolizing his return to the light side.

After Revan was captured by the Jedi, his memory was erased by the Jedi Council to give him a chance at redemption. They implanted a new identity within him, and Revan, unaware of his dark past, began anew as a Jedi Knight. 

During this time, Revan was given a green lightsaber, symbolizing his return to the light side.

As Revan rediscovered his past, he gradually regained his memories and skills. 

He became a key figure in the fight against his former apprentice, Darth Malak, who had taken Revan’s place as the Dark Lord of the Sith. 

In the climactic battle aboard the Star Forge, Revan confronted and ultimately defeated Malak, ending his reign of terror.

Revan’s victory over Malak not only marked the end of the Sith’s immediate threat but also solidified his redemption. 

His green lightsaber was a testament to his restored identity as a Jedi and his commitment to the light side of the Force. Despite his troubled past, Revan became a symbol of hope and resilience for the Jedi Order and the Republic.

Purple Lightsaber: Final Battles

Revan’s journey comes full circle during the events of Star Wars: The Old Republic, where he wields a purple-bladed lightsaber during some of his most significant battles. 

One of the most notable appearances of Revan with his purple lightsaber occurs during the Shadow of Revan expansion of The Old Republic. 

Revan’s mission to destroy the Sith Emperor, Vitiate, becomes a driving force in his later years. 

Consumed by a singular obsession to end the Emperor’s reign, Revan’s alignment shifts toward a morally ambiguous “gray” stance, neither fully light nor dark. 

His purple lightsaber visually represents this balance and inner conflict.

On Yavin IV, Revan faces a climactic battle against a joint strike force of both Republic and Imperial forces—a testament to the magnitude of his threat. 

A Little-Known Fact About Revan’s Red Lightsaber

In the current Star Wars canon, turning to the dark side often involves the dramatic act of “bleeding” a kyber crystal. 

We’ve seen this process in action, like when Darth Vader corrupted a green crystal in the Darth Vader comics, and it’s even shown in The Acolyte, where Osha bleeds Sol’s blue crystal into a crimson blade.

However, Legends tells a different story, especially with Revan. When Revan fell to the dark side, he didn’t bleed a crystal to forge his red lightsaber. 

Instead, he simply replaced his original blue kyber crystal with a red one, bypassing the intense ritual we associate with Sith lightsabers today.