We’ve all seen Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber in some of Star Wars’ most iconic moments—from the prequels to The Clone Wars.
It’s always blue, a classic symbol of a Jedi.
But here’s something I’ve always wondered: if Anakin is the Chosen One, destined to balance the Force, why wasn’t his lightsaber purple?
After all, isn’t purple supposed to represent that balance?
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Anakin’s Path and Why His Lightsaber Could Never Be Purple
The idea of Anakin wielding a purple lightsaber is pretty exciting, right? After all, it would perfectly align with his title as the Chosen One—the one destined to bring balance to the Force.
But when you think about who Anakin is and how he acts, it starts to make sense why his blade was never purple. Anakin often relied on his emotions, which is far from the balance and reflection a purple blade would symbolize.
To understand why blue was the only color that fit Anakin, let’s dive into the time he constructed his first lightsaber and discovered his kyber crystal on Ilum.
Anakin’s Journey to Find His First Kyber Crystal
In Star Wars: Jedi Quest (issue #1), we get a closer look at young Anakin’s first trip to Ilum in 29 BBY. Still a youngling at this time, Anakin traveled with Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet to undertake the challenge of finding his crystal.
When they reached the icy caves of Ilum, Anakin asked Obi-Wan, “Tell me, Master… why did the Jedi choose such a hazardous spot to keep the Ilum crystals?” Obi-Wan replied, “The crystals grow in a cave at the top of this cliff. That is where we must gather them. The challenge is part of the reward.”
This exchange sets the stage for Anakin’s journey, showing that he must face external and internal challenges to claim his crystal.
Standing before the cave’s entrance, Obi-Wan gave him another piece of guidance. “The crystals are deep within. To reach them, you will have to pass through visions and voices. Some of them may frighten you. Some of them are drawn from your own past. They are your deepest fears. That is what you must face.”
With those words, Anakin entered the cave alone, ready to face the unknown.
Anakin’s Trials in the Cave
As Anakin journeyed deeper into the cave, the Force began to test him. His first vision appeared as a younger version of himself on Tatooine, playing with a simple toy.
Suddenly, the toy rolled toward him and began to bleed. Despite the eerie sight, Anakin calmed himself, and the vision faded.
Further inside, another vision appeared—this time far more harrowing. He saw his mother being attacked by a shadowy creature.
Unlike before, Anakin couldn’t stay calm. Overcome by rage, he charged at the monster, screaming, “I’LL KILL YOU!” But just as before, the vision disappeared.
In the depths of the cave, Anakin finally felt the crystal calling to him. However, before he could claim it, another figure emerged from the darkness. This time, it was Obi-Wan. “It’s time,” Obi-Wan said. “Go into a trance state, Anakin. Cleanse your mind. Then your feelings will guide your intent.”
Trusting his master, Anakin sat down and began constructing his lightsaber hilt. But as soon as he closed his eyes, Obi-Wan’s form shifted into something far darker—Darth Maul.
The Vision of Darth Maul
The vision of Maul taunted Anakin by snatching away his unlit lightsaber and tossing him a new one, mockingly saying, “Your training lightsaber is a boy’s toy. Try this.”
With the weapon Maul tossed, Anakin ignited it, revealing a blue blade. Maul’s words grew more venomous: “I can feel it. You hate me. It is natural, after all. I gutted your friend like an animal.”
Fueled by anger, Anakin engaged in a fierce duel with Maul’s vision. Throughout the fight, Maul urged him to embrace his hatred and use it as a source of power. But Anakin resisted. “No. I will learn to let my anger go. I am a Jedi. It isn’t power I seek.”
Realizing that the visions were manifestations of his fears, Anakin confronted and dismissed them, forcing the darkness to dissipate.
The Crystals Choose Anakin
When the visions faded, Anakin awoke to find three blue kyber crystals surrounding him. In his hand was the lightsaber he had constructed during his trance.
Obi-Wan, who had been searching for him, approached and asked, “You made this?” Anakin, still astonished, replied, “I… I must have. You appeared to me. You told me to go into the trance state. I feel the Force very strongly.”
Despite his destiny as the Chosen One, Anakin’s journey was always defined by his emotions and his struggles to master them.
Throughout his trials in the cave, Anakin repeatedly affirmed his commitment to the Jedi path, even as the visions tested his resolve. When Maul’s vision taunted him to give in to his anger and hate, Anakin stood firm, declaring, “I am a Jedi.”
The blue crystals responded to this declaration. For Anakin, the blue lightsaber became the ultimate symbol of what it meant to be a Jedi—representing protection, defense, and a connection to the light side of the Force.
It was as if the crystals themselves mirrored his desire to align with the ideals of the Jedi Order, even as his emotions threatened to pull him away.
This moment also foreshadowed Anakin’s greatest internal struggle. The blue blade symbolized his commitment to the Jedi, yet it also served as a constant reminder of the discipline and control he often found so difficult to maintain.
It wasn’t just the crystals that chose him; it was his belief, his hope, and his identity as a Jedi that shaped the color of his lightsaber.