When we think of lightsaber colors, we may first think of blue, red, or green. Those are the most common colors in Star Wars canon.
Yet, Mace Windu departs from this color scheme.
Why does Windu have the only purple-bladed lightsaber in the Jedi order?
The answer comes from within and outside of the Star Wars universe.
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Lightsaber Colors in Star Wars
Originally, George Lucas planned for the Jedi to have blue-bladed lightsabers and the Sith to have red ones.
We also saw Luke’s green lightsaber in Return of the Jedi after he lost his blue one in The Empire Strikes Back.
So, we started to see some variation in lightsabers.
In canon, the color of a lightsaber blade derives from the Force power of the user as they become one with their lightsaber and its kyber crystal.
Natural and Force-attuned, kyber crystals do not have color until they are melded into lightsabers bonded with their user.
They provide the source of energy for a lightsaber and can change color once “picked up by a new wielder.”
As the crystals bond with a Jedi, they usually become blue or green, but other colors like yellow have been used by the Jedi Temple Guards.
We have also seen Ahsoka Tano’s white lightsabers depart from the customary color scheme.
In Ahsoka’s case, she “purified” a red blade she recovered from an Inquisitor she had defeated.
Mace Windu also diverted from the usual Jedi trend, distinguishing himself with a purple blade.
Why Does Windu Have the Only Purple Lightsaber?
We first see Mace Windu’s unique purple-bladed lightsaber in Attack of the Clones.
One reason why Windu has this color is that the actor Samuel Jackson selected it because he wanted his character to be “the second baddest Jedi in the universe.”
Jackson also wanted Windu to “stand out” in the Battle of Geonosis.
According to this video, though, Windu’s purple blade follows from his Force power, which was closer to the dark side than other Jedi.
Windu’s blade color thus coincides with his emotions and “struggles with the Force,” as this article highlights.
From these sources, we see the purple color arising more from within the Star Wars universe, rather than outside of it.
This second explanation grabs more traction if we think about Windu’s abilities and personality.
He is an extraordinary Jedi known for his lightsaber fighting skills based on the seventh form, a more aggressive tactic used more widely by Dark Side users.
Hence, his skill and character leaned towards tendencies associated with the Sith, but he resisted that temptation. Having a lightsaber to match these attributes makes sense.
Another explanation of why Windu’s blade is purple comes from a canon story in Marvel’s Age of Republic Special #1.
Windu transformed the color of his lightsaber while rebuilding it when he was taken captive. He drew on his connection to the Force to reassemble his blade, and it became purple.
This explanation circles back to Windu and his personal connection to the Force.
Who Else Has a Purple Lightsaber in Canon?
The 2019 Claudia Gray canon novel Master & Apprentice also indicates that lightsabers can change to purple and that others besides Windu had that color of lightsaber.
This book provides more insight into how purple lightsabers are a part of canon, and not unique to Windu.
In the recent show The Acolyte, Vernesta Rwoh was a central character with existing Star Wars history.
She has a purple lightsaber that can also serve as a whip because of her bond with the weapon and its kyber crystal.
As this article indicates, Rwoh is among several Jedi with purple blades, such as Ty Yorrick and Darth Revan, although the latter’s blade may not be in canon yet.
As Legends and canon continue to intersect, we will probably see more Force users wielding a purple-bladed lightsaber.
Mace Windu’s Purple Lightsaber
When Attack of the Clones was released in 2002, Mace Windu’s purple-bladed lightsaber set him apart. Within the Star Wars universe, he had the only purple blade because it matched his personality and skill set.
Outside the film, Samuel Jackson asked for it.
More recently, other Jedi and Sith are joining Windu by using a purple blade. As the canon shows, movies, and books continue, we will probably see more of this unique lightsaber blade color.
Todd Wahlstrom is a creative and analytical freelance writer and life-long Star Wars fan. He has covered such topics as Darth Vader, the Jedi, Boba Fett, and AT-AT Walkers. Todd has published a non-fiction book, holds a Ph.D. in history, and enjoys hiking, running, and reading about science.