Rey’s journey as a Jedi is reflected in the lightsabers she wields. From inheriting Anakin’s blue blade to crafting her own yellow lightsaber, Rey embraces her unique role in the galaxy, balancing tradition and innovation. Her yellow lightsaber signifies balance, wisdom, and a fresh beginning for the Jedi Order.
Rey’s journey through the Star Wars sequel trilogy is defined not only by her evolution as a Jedi but also by the lightsabers she wields along the way.
By the time we reach The Rise of Skywalker, Rey’s custom-built yellow lightsaber becomes a powerful symbol of her unique role in the Star Wars saga. With a distinctive hilt design and a rare yellow blade, her lightsaber represents more than just a weapon—it marks the beginning of a new era for the Jedi.
But how did she come to wield such a unique blade, and what does it symbolize? Let’s dive into Rey’s lightsaber history.
Before crafting her own lightsaber, Rey wields two significant weapons in her journey. First, she uses the iconic blue-bladed lightsaber originally constructed by Anakin Skywalker and passed down to Luke.
This weapon, steeped in history, symbolizes her growing connection to the Skywalker lineage and her increasing strength in the Force. Later, she wields Leia Organa’s blue lightsaber, a tool representing her deepening bond with Leia and the trust bestowed upon her.
Both lightsabers serve as powerful symbols of Rey’s early path before she ultimately constructs her own unique weapon.
Rey first encounters Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber in The Force Awakens when it mysteriously calls out to her from a hidden chest in Maz Kanata’s castle.
The saber, last seen falling into the depths of Cloud City during The Empire Strikes Back, somehow made its way into Maz’s vast collection of artifacts. Though the story of how it got there remains untold, its discovery sets Rey on her path to embracing her destiny as a Jedi.
Maz Kanata, the enigmatic owner of a castle filled with treasures, is never one to reveal all her secrets at once.
When Rey questions how she came to possess Luke’s lightsaber, Maz simply remarks that it’s a story for another time. While the full truth is yet to be revealed, Star Wars lore hints that an Ugnaught worker on Cloud City may have stumbled upon the lightsaber, setting it on its mysterious journey to Maz’s hands.
Rey’s lightsaber is unlike any we’ve seen before in live-action Star Wars. At the end of The Rise of Skywalker, Rey ignites her newly constructed lightsaber, revealing a brilliant yellow blade.
This color is rare among Jedi and carries deep symbolic meaning, often associated with balance, unity, and the Jedi Sentinels—a group known for blending combat skills with scholarly pursuits--and the Jedi Temple Guard class. Rey’s yellow blade represents her role as a trailblazer, charting a new path for the Jedi Order.
Rey’s yellow lightsaber is not only unique in color but also in its construction. Made from parts of her quarterstaff, the hilt is blocky and armored, designed to withstand impact. It features a cloth-wrapped handgrip and a rotating gear-like activation mechanism—a nod to her scavenger past on Jakku.
Unlike most lightsabers, which have simple switches, Rey’s weapon opens with a rotating emitter, briefly flashing blue and green before settling into its yellow glow.
Rey’s choice of a yellow lightsaber is more than a stylistic decision—it reflects her journey and personal philosophy.
Traditionally, yellow blades are associated with Jedi Sentinels, who strive for balance between combat and scholarly pursuits. Rey Skywalker embodies this balance perfectly.
As a scavenger-turned-Jedi with knowledge of both ancient Jedi traditions and real-world survival, her yellow lightsaber symbolizes her ability to unite past and present, creating something entirely her own.
Rey constructed her yellow lightsaber after the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the end of the First Order-Resistance War.
According to The Rise of Skywalker novelization, she began working on it while on Ajan Kloss, drawing inspiration from ancient Jedi texts. Though we don’t see the full construction process on screen, it’s clear that she built the saber herself—a time-honored tradition among Jedi.
If Rey’s yellow lightsaber has inspired you, it’s possible to craft your own.
Much like how Rey created her weapon using salvaged materials from her quarterstaff, building a custom lightsaber is about combining functionality with personal style. Whether you’re assembling one for cosplay, dueling, or display, the key is to make it uniquely yours—just as Rey did.
Rey likely found a pure kyber crystal and bonded it to herself in the traditional Jedi way. Kyber crystals begin colorless and adopt their hue based on the connection they form with their wielder.
The resulting yellow blade is a perfect match for Rey’s identity as a Jedi forging her own path. Some fans speculate that she may have purified a red crystal, but no official explanation has been provided.
By the film’s end, Rey wields her custom yellow lightsaber—a symbol of her new identity and fresh beginning.
In a final act of honor, she buries Luke and Leia’s lightsabers at the Lars homestead on Tatooine, laying the Skywalker legacy to rest while stepping into her own future.
Rey’s burial of Luke and Leia’s lightsabers is a poignant moment of closure in the Star Wars saga.
With both masters now one with the Force, she honors their memory by putting their weapons to rest in the sands of Tatooine. This act signifies her willingness to carry their legacy in her heart while forging her own path as a Jedi.
After the lightsaber was broken during her battle with Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi, Rey repairs it using techniques she learned from ancient Jedi texts.
The Star Wars Visual Dictionary reveals that she mended the shattered kyber crystal and restored the weapon, preserving its legacy.
In a vision of her dark side, Rey sees herself wielding a terrifying double-bladed red lightsaber.
This weapon, with a hinged design that folds into a staff, represents her deepest fears—succumbing to the darkness within her. Though it only appears briefly, this lightsaber became an instant fan favorite for its unique and ominous design.
Rey’s fighting style is an evolving blend of traditional lightsaber forms and techniques adapted from her staff training.
Early on, she relies heavily on her staff combat skills, but after studying ancient Jedi texts and training under Leia, Rey develops a well-rounded style. She likely adopts Form VI, Niman, which combines elements of Forms I through V—a perfect fit for her versatile and adaptive approach.
Rey’s journey from a scavenger wielding a simple bo staff to a Jedi with a yellow lightsaber mirrors her growth as a character in Star Wars lore.
The staff, practical and reliable, reflected her resourcefulness and self-sufficiency. As she trained and grew more connected to the Force, constructing her own lightsaber marked her acceptance of her destiny and her place in the Jedi Order.
Rey Skywalker’s journey is one of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery—her lightsabers serving as powerful symbols of each step along the way. From wielding the Skywalker family’s blue lightsaber to crafting her own yellow-bladed weapon, Rey embodies the balance between past and future, tradition and innovation.
In choosing her path, Rey honors the legacies of those who came before her while stepping boldly into the unknown. Her story reminds us that the Force is not bound by bloodlines or tradition but thrives in those with the courage to follow their own destiny.
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