Obi-Wan Kenobiconstructed and wielded three lightsabers in theStar Warssaga, and each weapon has a rich history in the franchise’s two continuities. Having been mentored by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and being a veteran of multiple wars (including the galaxy-spanning Clone Wars), Obi-Wan Kenobi is, unsurprisingly, one of the finest lightsaber combatants in the old Jedi Order. Obi-Wan’s three constructed lightsabers reflect his evolvinglightsaber combatstyle and even helped inspire the design of the first lightsaber in a new generation of Jedi.
As a Padawan, Obi-Wan’s primary style of lightsaber combat was the same as Qui-Gon Jinn’s – Form IV (Ataru). Unlike Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan preferred the form’s more utilitarian techniques and integrated its acrobatics (often enhanced by the Force) in combat. After Qui-Gon’s death, Obi-Wan reevaluated his preference for Ataru and felt that the more defensive Form III (Soresu) would be better suited for him. Kenobi used a hybrid of Ataru and Soresu for the next decade but would use the latter form almost exclusively by the start of the Clone Wars, becoming arguably the galaxy’s finest Soresu practitioner.
These changes in form have thus led to changes in the design of Obi-Wan’s lightsaber as well. Kenobi knew the importance of protecting one’s lightsaber, a lesson he passed on to his own Padawan, but even he couldn’t always protect it from outside circumstances. Between those instances and other preferences, Obi-Wan ended up with three different lightsabers - and here they all are.
3Obi-Wan Lost His First Lightsaber In The Phantom Menace
It Was Destroyed During His Duel With Darth Maul
In the originalStar WarsLegends continuity,Obi-Wan constructed his first lightsaber during his training as a Padawan, powering the weapon with a single blue Adegan crystal from Ilum. Obi-Wan would use his first lightsaber in numerous small conflicts preceding the outbreak of the Clone Wars. This included the Yinchorri Uprising and, more famously, the Invasion ofNaboo.
As shown inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,Obi-Wan would use his first lightsaber to cut down numerous Trade Federation droids and battle Darth Maul, with Maul kicking the weapon down into the depths of Naboo’s Plasma Refinery Complex, destroying it. Obi-Wan used the fallenQui-Gon’s lightsaberto kill Darth Maul, however. In the four years followingThe Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan would continue to use Qui-Gon’s lightsaber as his own before building a new weapon.
In the modern canon, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s first lightsaber would have a comparable history, having been constructed during Obi-Wan’s time as a Padawan. Unlike its original incarnation, however,the lightsaber was powered by a kyber crystal, which became blue after bonding with Kenobi. The lightsaber would be used on various missions and be destroyed on Naboo. It is unknown if Obi-Wan continued to use Qui-Gon’s lightsaber as his own following the Invasion of Naboo, but Kenobi would keep the weapon while living on Tatooine following the rise of the Empire.
2Obi-Wan’s Second Lightsaber Explained
Its Fate Is More Mysterious
After using Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber for roughly four years, Obi-Wan Kenobi finally built a second lightsaber sometime in 28 BBY in the original Legends timeline.Kenobi’s second lightsaber was identical to his first weapon, using the same hilt design and blue blade color. Obi-Wan would use his second weapon on many missions and, as shown inStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, the Separatist Crisis. The weapon would be confiscated on Geonosis when Obi-Wan was captured by the Separatists. It is unknown what became of the lightsaber following its confiscation.
When the Separatist Crisis exploded into the full-scale Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi initially found himself unarmed within the Geonosian Petranaki arena. Once Mace Windu’s Jedi assault team arrived in the arena,the Jedi Knight Sephjet Josall tossed Kenobi a blue-bladed lightsaber, which Obi-Wan used throughout the Battle of Geonosis. Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker would both use Sephjet Josall’s lightsaber in duels with Count Dooku, though what became of the weapon afterAttack of the Clonesis unknown.
Why Count Dooku Really Tried To Recruit Obi-Wan Kenobi In Attack Of The Clones
One of the most confusing scenes in Attack of the Clones has never truly been explained, raising many fascinating questions about Count Dooku.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s second lightsaber has an extremely similar history in the modern canon, though Kenobi most likely built the weapon much sooner after losing his first lightsaber. Like its original Legends-era iteration, the modern canon’s version of Obi-Wan’s second lightsaber was used on many missions betweenThe Phantom MenaceandAttack of the Clonesbut was never seen again after Obi-Wan’s capture on Geonosis.
1Obi-Wan’s Third Lightsaber Played A Key Role In A New Hope
It Was The First Lightsaber Ever Seen
Obi-Wan Kenobi built his third, final, and arguably most iconic lightsaber afterAttack of the Clones, likely very shortly after the film’s events.Kenobi’s third weapon had a significantly different design than its two predecessors and saw the most extensive use of all Kenobi’s lightsaberssince it was a wartime weapon. In the Legends continuity, Obi-Wan used his third lightsaber to slay countless Separatists throughout the Clone Wars and battled exceptionally deadly opponents, such as the Gen’Dai bounty hunter Durge and the Rattataki Sith acolyteAsajj Ventress.
In itsStar Wars: Clone Warsappearances, Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber mistakenly resembles his first and second lightsaber.
Obi-Wan uses the lightsaber in theStar Wars: Clone Warsmicroseries,Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, andA New Hope. The first instances of onscreen lightsaber combat involved Obi-Wan Kenobi dismembering Ponda Boba in Chalmun’s Cantina and dueling Darth Vader aboard the Death Star. The lightsaber’s status was initially left unknown following Kenobi’s death, however. As shown inReturn of the Jediand Steve Perry’sStar Wars: Shadows of the Empire,Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber (and notes left behind by Kenobi) would inspire the hilt design of Luke Skywalker’s iconic green-bladed lightsaber.
After killing Obi-Wan, Darth Vader appropriated his former mentor’s lightsaber and kept it among his personal effects in Bast Castle on Vjun. As shown in Rebecca Moesta’sJunior Jedi Knights: Kenobi’s Blade, Luke Skywalker, Tionne Solusar, and students of the New Jedi Order would retrieve artifacts from Bast Castle. Among the artifacts wasKenobi’s lightsaber – with the storied weapon finally returning to the Jedi.
Star Wars: How All 3 Of Han and Leia’s Kids Died in Star Wars Legends
In the old Star Wars Expanded Universe, now called Star Wars Legends, Han and Leia had three kids; Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. But how did they die?
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber has a similar history in the modern canon. Obi-Wan wields the famous weapon throughout the Clone Wars, as shown inStar Wars: The Clone Wars. Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber would also see repeated use following the fall of the Republic, with Kenobi using it to battle Darth Vader a second and third time, as shown inObi-Wan Kenobi.Star Wars Rebelssees Kenobi use the lightsaber to kill Darth Maul– who survived his bisection in the modern canon. After Kenobi’s death, however, it is unknown what became of Obi-Wan’s third lightsaber in the modernStar Warscanon.
June 21, 2025
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
