The weapon of the Jedi Knights, the lightsaber is undoubtably the most deadly short-range weapon. Upon ignition, the a beam of energy is emitted from the hilt, forming a high-intensity "blade" that will slice through anything - except another lightsaber blade. The beam is so intense that if it were to slice through living flesh, the heat would be hot enough to instantly cauterize a wound - leaving no blood. The weapon is used as a high-tech sword in combat. However, the weapon possesses great defensive quality as well, due to the fact that bolts fired from a blaster can be blocked or deflected using the blade. Because of the dangers and difficulties related to its use, a lightsaber is quite difficult to use - the main reason why it remains unique to the Jedi Knights and Sith Lords.

The lightsaber's blade comes from within the hilt. Once the saber is turned on, a set of two crystals focus eachother, and combined with energy from the rest of the unit, it produces the blade, which extends from the business end of the device. Several different types of crystals can be used inside a lightsaber, this being the main reason why there are different lightsaber colors varying from red, blue, green, and purple. While the lightsaber is lit, the blade produces a continous hum, and harsh contact between the blade and other substances will usually produces sparks. When not activated, the lightsaber is just a metal handle with at least one switch or button on it. Older lightsabers has a knob near the bottom of the hilt, which was used to plug the lightsaber into a port on a Jedi's utility belt that would both holster the weapon and continually charge it. The cutaway model at the left shows the lightsaber from the inside (yeah...as if you could figure it out.)

Construction of a lightsaber can be extremely difficult: Mess up and BAM! You're dead and you have no lightsaber. It is for this reason that traditionally in the Jedi Order it is part of a Padawan's journey into Knighthood to build his own lightsaber from scratch. Despite this, Jedi and Sith have not only mastered the creation and use of a lightsaber, but some have even customized their weapons and fighting styles to a greater degree. The Sith Apprentice Darth Maul used a double-bladed lightsaber, which emitted one blade on each end of a long hilt and was used in the style of a staff. Jedi Master Yoda's lightsaber, while not incredibly unlike other lightsabers, was customized to have a shorter blade to accomodate a person of his size. The weapon of Count Dooku had a curved hilt, reflective of Dooku's preferred fencing style. Some Jedi have learned fight with the lightsaber held upside down, or to use two lightsabers at one time.