Lightsabers with orange blades are quite rare in the Star Wars universe, which lends an air of mystery and intrigue to their meaning and origins. While not as common as blue, green, or red blades, orange lightsabers have appeared across Star Wars films, TV shows, books, comics and video games. Digging deeper into their appearances and the characters who wield them provides insight into the symbolic meaning behind orange lightsabers.
Examples of Orange Lightsabers in Star Wars
One of the earliest appearances of an orange lightsaber was in the 1995 Star Wars novel Darksaber by Kevin J. Anderson. In the book, Jedi Knight Gantoris constructs a unique lightsaber with a shoto-style orange blade. This was still fairly early on in the development of the Expanded Universe (now called Star Wars Legends), so an orange lightsaber was quite unusual and caught reader’s attention.
In the Star Wars prequel films, Jedi Master Plo Koon wielded an orange-bladed lightsaber with a curved hilt. His first appearance with it was in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Plo Koon would continue using his distinctive orange lightsaber up through Revenge of the Sith and in The Clone Wars animated series. It suited his bold, innovative fighting style as he flew into battle using the Force.
The 2008 Force Unleashed video game introduced Jedi Maris Brood, who fought with dual orange lightsabers. This was a memorable look for a Jedi duel-wielder. Maris Brood also appeared with her orange blades in The Force Unleashed comic series and novel.
More recently, the Jedi Temple Guards seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and other media have used double-bladed orange lightsabers as they protect the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Their prominent appearance in the Clone Wars episodes added more meaning to the mystique of orange lightsabers.
In the current Star Wars canon, orange lightsabers remain rare but have appeared occasionally. For instance, Jedi Tera Sinube wielded an orange blade in the Clone Wars. And in Jedi: Fallen Order video game, an orange lightsaber can be constructed by the main character Cal Kestis using special lightsaber parts.
Meaning Behind Orange Lightsaber Colors
In the Star Wars universe, the color of a lightsaber’s blade carries meaning. While there are many shades, each general color symbolizes different attributes of the Force and the lightsaber wielder.
For example:
- Blue represents guardianship and justice
- Green embodies harmony with the Force
- Purple is used by Jedi who walk a balance between light and dark
- Red is favored by Sith and dark side Force users
Orange blades do not have an official canon meaning yet. But looking at the Jedi who have used them and the overall mysticism surrounding orange lightsabers provides some thematic context.
Some possible symbolic meanings behind orange lightsabers include:
- Uniqueness – Orange stands out from the crowd of blue, green and red blades. It signifies a creative, innovative wielder.
- Individuality – Following their own path instead of adhering to Jedi traditions.
- Impartiality – Not strongly aligned with any faction or cause. Objective and open-minded.
- Self-Mastery – Balance between their inner darkness and light to gain wisdom.
- Harmony – At peace with both the living Force and cosmic Force.
Looking at some specific orange lightsaber owners reinforces these meanings:
| Jedi | Personality & Traits |
|---|---|
| Plo Koon | Unorthodox thinking, calm demeanor |
| Maris Brood | Solemn, balanced between dark and light |
| Temple Guards | Mysterious, dedicated to tradition |
Their individual natures highlight the uniqueness, self-mastery, and objectivity associated with orange blades. These themes also fit with the relative rarity of orange lightsabers in Star Wars stories.
Construction of Orange Lightsabers
In Star Wars lore, constructing a lightsaber is an important milestone in a Jedi’s training. The kyber crystals that power lightsabers initially come in a variety of colors like blue, green, yellow or violet. However through the use of the Force, Jedi can redeem crystals corrupted by the dark side, purifying them into an orange hue.
For example, Ahsoka Tano healed two red crystals in this way, transforming them into white-orange blades as seen in Star Wars Rebels. Her compassion and understanding allowed her to convert the red crystals without fully becoming one with the light or dark side.
Similarly, Jedi may focus inward through the Force during lightsaber construction to gain self-knowledge and balance. This meditative healing can also produce an orange kyber crystal.
In some cases, finding rare orange-hued crystals on special worlds can result in orange blades as well. So orange lightsabers represent mastery of both inner reflection and connection with the Force to purify a crystal.
Key Events Involving Orange Lightsabers
While not as numerous as other colors, orange lightsabers have been involved in pivotal moments across Star Wars media:
- Plo Koon battled droids on Geonosis with his orange blade in Attack of the Clones
- Maris Brood dueled Starkiller while guarding a Jedi temple in The Force Unleashed
- Tera Sinube fought Cad Bane and freed child hostages using an orange saber in The Clone Wars
- Temple guards stood watch over Ahsoka Tano’s trial with their orange lightsabers ignited
- Cal Kestis explored the ruins of Ilum to locate an orange kyber crystal in Jedi: Fallen Order
These key events highlight orange lightsabers being used in times of conflict, guardianship, and spiritual journeys. The scenes reinforce the thematic meanings of impartiality, inner mastery, and unique purpose.
Famous Wielders of Orange Lightsabers
From Jedi Council members to video game protagonists, notable Star Wars characters have made their mark wielding orange lightsabers:
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Plo Koon | Respected Kel Dor member of the Jedi High Council |
| Maris Brood | Survivor of the Jedi Purge trained under Shaak Ti |
| Tera Sinube | Elder Jedi investigator during the Clone Wars era |
| Temple Guards | Anonymous sentinels protecting Jedi secrets |
Their varied backgrounds show orange lightsabers being used by traditional Jedi and more unorthodox masters. All reflect unique personalities or duties that require balance and self-discovery.
Rarity of Orange Blades
Orange kyber crystals are exceptionally rare in Star Wars canon. Their uncommon nature gives them an air of mystery and exclusivity. Some explanations for the rarity of orange lightsabers include:
- Difficulty purifying or healing corrupted crystals
- Challenging process of focusing inward during construction
- Small number of kyber crystal formations producing orange hues
- Reserved only for elite or unusual Jedi
This infrequency makes orange blades stand out as special whenever they do appear in stories. It adds to their association with the equally scarce Jedi who follow unorthodox paths or balance light and dark within themselves.
Future of Orange Lightsabers
As Star Wars continues to expand across movies, TV series, books, comics and games, the future possibilities for orange lightsabers are wide open. Here are some potential directions for their future role:
- Being used by main protagonists more often
- Appearing in the hands of dark side Force users
- Gaining an official meaning from Lucasfilm
- Playing key roles in climactic battles or story moments
- Becoming associated with specific groups like Temple Guards
With more Jedi like Cal Kestis constructing their own orange lightsabers, they could become more commonplace and lose some uniqueness. But their rarity also makes them ripe for being assigned an official symbolic meaning related to balance, impartiality, harmony, or redemption.
Conclusion
Orange lightsabers stand out for their rare appearances across Star Wars stories in the hands of unique, self-reflective Jedi. The difficulty of purifying crystals and constructing the blades adds to their mystique. While not having a definitive canon meaning yet, orange lights seem connected to harmony, impartiality, and balance between light and dark. As more characters wield orange blades in pivotal moments, they continue to fascinate fans with their blend of exclusivity and inclusivity within the Force.