Vibroblade / Legends Vibroblades were a type of bladed melee vibroweapon that used ultrasonic vibrations to increase cutting effectiveness . Description . A vibroblade resembled a short sword with a high - tech look and feel and consisted of the same basic design as other vibroweapon s : the weapon ' s hilt or handle usually contained a compact ultrasonic vibration generator , causing the blade to vibrate at an incredible speed , making even the slightest glancing blow become a gaping wound . Vibroblades were dangerous to use against electrical weapons , as they conducted electricity . Electrocution , however , would be the wielder ' s last concern . Traveling up the length of the blade , the electricity would connect with a vibroblade ' s energy cell and ultrasonic vibration generator . The result would be a miniature explosion with enough force to take off a hand . A vibroblade could be fitted with cortosis - weave , allowing it to parry the blows of lightsabers and energy sword s . The cortosis - weave became less common when the probability of fighting a lightsaber - wielding opponent decreased . By the time of the Galactic Civil War , knowledge of the cortosis - weave had faded , and the cortosis mineral itself had become exceedingly rare . A highly adaptable variant of the vibroblade , the prototype vibroblade , could be fitted with a number of weapon enhancements . Larger variants of the vibroblade included the dire vibroblade , vibrosword , Sith Tremor Sword , and vibro double - blade , while smaller variants included the vibrorapier , vibrodagger , vibroknife , vibro - shiv , and hand - sized vibroknuckler and knuckle plate vibro blade . Variant vibroblades created and used by other cultures included the Zabrak vibroblade used by the Zabrak and the Echani vibroblade used by the Echani . History . Vibroblades were favored by soldiers , mercenaries , assassins , and pirates throughout the galaxy . They were also used as backup melee weapons by bounty hunters , crime lords , and privateers . Since they were popular among criminals , vibroblades were banned on many worlds , especially in urban areas . Vibroweapons were common prior to , after , and during the Jedi Civil War , because as personal energy shields became more common , blasters , of course , became less viable as a sound weapon . Vibroweapons on the other hand could cut through energy shields ( and their users ) with ease . Vibroblades were carried as melee weapons by Mandalorian Neo - Crusader Shock Trooper s as well as officers of the Republic Military . The Twi ' lek computer slicer Mission Vao crafted her own custom - made vibroblade which she used to defend herself in the rough Undercity of Taris around the time she met Revan . During the Clone Wars , the bounty hunter Sugi carried this weapon . Clone assassin s used vibroblades as their primary weapon . Vibroblades were also used as backup weapons by Imperial Dungeoneer s . Despite widespread banning , the use of vibrobladed weaponry continued on isolated , less civilized worlds , such as Tatooine . Jabba the Hutt ' s skiff crew used pikes with vibrobladed cutting edges . Vibroblades were also carried by officers of the Alliance Special Forces and later by Core Fleet Elite Commandos of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force s . Around 40 ABY , Lumiya , a Dark Lady of the Sith , carried a vibroblade which she used to plunge into her own cybernetic thigh , without the slightest quiver of pain , to prove the extent of her prosthetic limb replacements . Around the same time , Mara Jade Skywalker gave her son Ben Skywalker a vibroblade with a concealed tracking device .