When Crystal Turns Red: The Dark Side’s Influence on Lightsaber Crystals

In the Star Wars universe, one weapon that truly reflects and embodies a Jedi or Sith’s skill and relationship with the Force is the lightsaber. Powered by kyber crystals, this plasma-filled energy sword is also the most recognisable weapon from the franchise, and they come in a variety of types and blade colours.

Right from the very first Star Wars film, the blades of Sith (and other dark side) lightsabers have always been depicted as a crimson red colour. While this obviously makes it easier for fans to visually distinguish between the good and bad guys, there is actually a deeper meaning behind the characteristic red colour of Sith/Dark Side lightsabers, and Padawan Outpost will be taking a more in-depth look at how lightsaber crystals get their colours and what influence the Dark Side has on them.

How Lightsaber (Kyber) Crystals Gain Their Colours

In the Star Wars universe, lightsabers are powered by rare and Force-imbued crystals known as kyber crystals. These crystals serve as the energy source of anakin skywalker lightsaber and are mostly obtained from Force-rich planets such as Lothal, Ilum, and the Adega system.

In their natural state, these kyber crystals are colourless, and a Force user would typically need to attune them with the Force before they can be used. To do this, the Force-sensitive individual will have to meditate on the crystal for several days before placing it in their lightsaber. This process of imbuing a kyber crystal with the Force also gives the crystal and the lightsaber their colour.

The colour a kyber crystal takes on is usually determined by its owner’s personality and relationship with the Force. For most light side users, kyber crystals turn to either blue or green, which explains why many Jedi have blue or green lightsabers. There are however, rare occasions where a kyber crystal turns to purple, yellow, or orange. It is also possible for a kyber crystal to change its color if it bonds with another Force-user (as seen in Clone Wars, where Anakin refurbished Ahsoka’s green lightsaber crystals to blue). This phenomenon is reminiscent of the unstable red blade of kylo ren lightsaber, which resulted from a cracked kyber crystal.

How Lightsaber Crystals Turn Red 

As mentioned earlier, kyber crystals are naturally colourless, and a Jedi or Force-user will need to attune to them in order for their colour to change. These crystals are also Force-sensitive, and most of the time, they are able to call out to their desired owners (typically other Force-sensitives and light side users).

However, the Sith and individuals who seek to garner power through the dark side of the Force don’t have the same connection to kyber crystals as the Jedi and light side users do, so the only way for them to use kyber crystals is to force a connection through a ritual known as “bleeding”.

During this bleeding ritual, a Sith or Dark Side user will manipulate and bend a kyber crystal (typically stolen or taken from a Jedi they have defeated) to their will by pouring all their negative emotions and energy into the crystal. This process will typically corrupt the kyber crystal and make it turn red.

The act of bleeding kyber crystals corrupts and severes any connection the crystals have to the light side of the Force. All the negative emotions (rage, fear, anger, and hatred) that the Siths pour into kyber can, during bleeding, create a bond that allows them to draw power from the Dark Side to make their lightsabers more powerful and also enhance their abilities.

The process of bleeding can, however be reversed, and bled kyber crystals can be healed. The two white lightsabers wielded by former Jedi Ahsoka Tano are powered by the Inquisitor crystals that she healed using the Force.

Conclusion 

Lightsaber crystals or kyber crystals are what determine the different colours of lightsaber blades. These crystals are initially colourless, but once they have been imbued with the Force, they take on a colour that reflects their owner’s relationship with the Force.

A lightsaber crystal turns red when it becomes corrupted by the Dark Side during “bleeding”, a process that allows the Sith and other Dark Side users to manipulate and bend kyber crystals to their will.