5 Most Overpowered Lightsabers In Star Wars Lore

Ever since "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope" introduced lightsabers in 1977, the discussion around the coolest sci-fi weapon has been effectively settled. There's something about the way lightsabers combine classic melee combat, a great aesthetic, and futuristic technology that make the weapons incredibly fascinating ... and it doesn't exactly hurt that the best "Star Wars" movie lightsaber fights are impressive, elaborate affairs that have etched themselves in pop culture history. 

Granted, not everything about lightsabers is cut and dry. There are many lightsaber rules that make no sense in "Star Wars," and some of the franchise's gross lightsaber mysteries raise serious questions about these borderline magic weapons' scientific feasibility (or rather, their lack thereof). Still, there's no denying that lightsabers fulfill their two primary purposes: They look awesome and they represent extreme power. But are all lightsabers made equal? No, they're not — and the following list of five particularly powerful ones will show precisely why. 

Darth Vader's lightsaber is the Sith Lord's primary weapon, most beloved hobby, and quite possibly the only object he truly cares about in the world. Vader, in fact, is a bit of a lightsaber nerd, and he spends a huge amount of time upgrading and fine-tuning his iconic red-bladed saber into an absurdly powerful weapon that has two separate kyber crystals and a blade that can be adjusted during the battle for optimal combat length.

Apart from Vader constantly tinkering and experimenting with his saber to make it as technically sound as possible, it's also worth noting that the power of a lightsaber is directly enhanced by the Force-sensitivity of the user. Since Anakin Skywalker is famously one of the greatest and most powerful Force users in franchise history, this makes his weapon of choice a truly fearsome one: A technically superior saber wielded by an abnormally strong user of the Force.

The untold truth of the Darksaber includes one of the most fascinating paths a single lightsaber has taken in the entire "Star Wars" franchise. This befits the unique nature of the weapon, too. The Darksaber resembles a pitch-black blade that's surrounded by a bright, white glow, and it has several properties that take it above and beyond your average lightsaber. 

The Darksaber is an old, comparatively short saber with physical components that are made of the sturdy Mandalorian alloy known as beskar. Its powers are inherently tied to the person wielding it, too. The Darksaber can be enhanced by the user's emotional state and active thoughts, which can make it an even more formidable weapon than it normally is. On the other hand, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) finds out first-hand on "The Mandalorian" that inexperienced hands will find the weapon incredibly difficult to wield.

However, the Darksaber also has another, less straightforward power. It's a highly esteemed symbol among the Mandalorians, and several factions agree that the person who wields the lightsaber is the rightful ruler of Mandalore. Let's see other lightsabers pull that one off. 

Never one for excess tradition, street kid-turned-budding Jedi Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray) comes up with a simple upgrade that gives his "Star Wars Rebels"-era prototype lightsaber a massive advantage. Along with other tricks like adjustable length, he embeds a blaster gun into the handle, creating a dual construct that allows him to use the weapon as either a regular lightsaber or a long-distance weapon, as needs must. 

With physical swords, this might simply be the waste of a both a good melee weapon and a good firearm, given the obvious weight and accuracy issues such a combination would have. With a considerably less weighty lightsaber, it's pretty genius and gives the wielder a great edge in combat. While Ezra himself isn't a very skilled Force user during his time with the weapon, he doesn't get the best use out of it — but it's still a solid and uniquely powerful weapon, thanks to its simple and clever engineering. 

When "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" dropped in 1999, Ray Park's Darth Maul soon established himself as the coolest new kid on the block. Apart from his eye-popping character design, his effect was greatly enhanced by what's still one of the most memorable lightsaber designs in the live-action leg of the franchise: Maul's fearsome double-bladed lightsaber. 

Combined with the Sith Lord's acrobatic approach to dueling, this saberstaff is versatile enough to duel two highly skilled Jedis at once. It's also one of the more modifiable designs out there. Apart from its double-bladed form, the saber can be used as a regular single-blade saber or even be split into two separate sabers in a pinch. Though Maul has used other weapons over the years, the double-bladed staff design is the one he keeps going back to ... and when you look at his proficiency with the weapon, it's no surprise. 

The "Star Wars Legends" lore is full of interesting characters who are just waiting to be introduced into the canon, and the Disney era of "Star Wars" has made good of the opportunity on occasion. Dark Lady Lumiya, however, may not be among the characters who are about to be fast-tracked to canon status, given her association with the extremely non-canon Jacen Solo — the Extended Universe-era son of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), whose role has been usurped by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in the movies.  

It's a shame, because Lumiya is a complex character who rocks a weapon like few others. Lumiya's lightwhip is a dangerous, multi-tailed whip weapon that uses the most powerful type of lightsaber crystal out there in conjunction with incredibly sturdy physical materials like beskar. This combination of lightsaber energy and physical whip-tails make for a weapon that's tricky to wield but borderline invincible in the hands of a skilled user. Lumiya had the talent to use it, and in her hands, the weapon became a legendarily feared object that she once used to defeat Luke Skywalker himself.