Trials of the Darksaber " Trials of the Darksaber " is the fifteenth episode of the animated television series " Star Wars Rebels " third season . It is the fifty - second episode of the series overall . It aired on January 21 , 2017 , on Disney XD . Official description . " Sabine begins training with the ancient Darksaber - - but in doing so , she must also face her past . " Plot summary . Return of the Darksaber . The episode opens with A - wings flying over Chopper Base on the planet Atollon . The astromech droid Chopper pushes several supplies past the rebel ship " Ghost " . Sabine Wren briefly argues with Chopper before moving on . The Mandalorian Fenn Rau walks aboard the ship ' s ramp . Kanan Jarrus has requested a private meeting with Rau to show him the Darksaber , which Sabine Wren had found earlier on Dathomir . Rau recognizes the Darksaber as the symbol of the leader of House Vizsla , later the leader of the group known as Death Watch . Rau then proceeds to recount the history of the Darksaber . According to legend , it was created a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla , the first Mandalorian to be inducted into the Jedi Order . After his passing , the Jedi kept the Darksaber at the Temple until members of House Vizsla snuck in and stole it . They then used the Darksaber to unify the people of Mandalore and to strike down those who opposed them . One time , House Vizsla ruled all of Mandalore wielding the Darksaber . Rau stresses that the blade is a symbol of Mandalorian power . Kanan tells Rau that Sabine gave it to him for safekeeping , not wanting to go down this path . Rau thinks that it will be a good idea for Sabine to wield the Darksaber in order to reunify one of the most powerful houses on Mandalore . When Kanan asks whether Rau wants to raise an army , he envisions Sabine leading it . Sabine ' s decision . In her room , Sabine is admiring her art when Chopper enters the room to tell her that all of the other Spectres and Rau have convened for a meeting aboard the " Ghost " common room . Sabine tells Rau and the Spectres that she will not wield the Darksaber because it brought her and her family nothing but chaos after Maul took it . Rau replies that Maul used it to divide and conquer and adds that she can use it to do the opposite . Sabine thinks that Rau is crazy but Kanan urges her to listen to what Rau has to say . Kanan does not think it is a coincidence that the Darksaber came into her possession . Ezra Bridger voices his opinion that she might not know how to wield it given the difficulty he had mastering the Force and the lightsaber . While Kanan thinks that Sabine may not learn how to fight like a Jedi , he thinks she can become proficient with the Darksaber . Sabine replies that she is skilled with wielding many weapons but doesn ' t think she can master a lightsaber . Rau reminds her of the importance of the blade . Sabine is reluctant to lead her clan because she is estranged from her family . When Kanan suggests it can change , Sabine replies that he does not know what he is talking about . Fenn then steps in and says that he knows that family is important to the Wrens just like all Mandalorians . Sabine counters that the crew of the " Ghost " are her family and reiterates that she does not want her old family . Hera Syndulla replies that the rebellion does need her family ' s help to rally the Mandalorians to the rebel cause . Hera understands that family history can be painful but stresses that they can use the Mandalorians to launch their attack on Lothal . Kanan adds that she can choose to walk away or take up the challenge . After some contemplation , Sabine reluctantly agrees to learn how to wield the Darksaber . He counsels her that once people know she has the weapon they will challenge her for it . Sabine responds that she will try but Ezra explains that there is no try but only doing . Sabine demands the sword so she can kick Ezra ' s " ass " but Kanan urges her to calm down . Kanan reluctantly passes her the Darksaber . Sabine ' s training . Kanan and Ezra take Sabine on a landspeeder into Atollon ' s wilderness to avoid the distractions of Chopper Base and , according to Ezra , to make sure she " does less damage " . Sabine is reluctant to assume this responsibility and grumpily warns Ezra that she will damage him if he doesn ' t shut up . Two krykna spiders move in the background . They eventually reach a cave where the rebels set up camp . Sabine whines that she expected sword fighting when Kanan begins the training with sticks . Kanan explains that he wants to see her technique . When Sabine boasts that she can fight , Kanan responds that it should then be easy for her . Ezra watches while Kanan and Sabine parry with sticks . Sabine advances on the blind Kanan but the Jedi Knight uses the Force to sense her movements and strikes her with his stick , knocking her to the ground . Kanan remarks that this technique might work on a stormtrooper but not on him . Sabine attacks Kanan again but he bests her and taps her neck with the stick . He warns her that every mistake is a limb gone and warns her not to rest her blade . Unimpressed with Sabine ' s melee combat prowess , he tells her to practice with Ezra despite her protests . Ezra teaches her about the different lightsaber fighting strokes using the sticks while Kanan stands by . A couple of days later , Kanan is contacted by Hera via comlink . He tells her that Ezra is introducing Sabine to the basics of stick fighting . When Kanan tells Hera he is trying to be careful with Sabine , Hera replies that he did not make Ezra fight with a stick . Kanan reiterates that he is trying to do things carefully . Hera counters that Kanan doubts her abilities because Sabine can ' t use the Force . Kanan explains that the Force resides in everything but that Sabine has not opened her mind to it . He surmises that her mind is expressive but so tightly wound like a Mandalorian . When Hera tells Kanan she is sending out supplies , Kanan responds that the only extra provisions they need are patience and understanding . The Mandalorian vambrace . While Kanan stands by , Sabine and Ezra continue to parry with their sticks . Kanan tells Sabine that her technique is not going to work . Ezra reassures her she is doing well . Shortly later , Fenn Rau arrives on a speeder bike with supplies from Chopper Base . Ezra manages to dodge Sabine ' s attack with his stick and manages to knock her to the ground . Rau surmises that Sabine over - committed but a frustrated Sabine is not eager to listen to any opinions . Kanan tells Sabine to take a break and orders Ezra to fetch the supplies . Rau brings Sabine a box that came partially at his recommendation . Sabine discovers that Fenn has brought a Mandalorian vambrace . Sabine is amazed that Rau has obtained these weapons . He explains that the vambrace is equipped with paralyzing darts and cables meant to combat the abilities of the Jedi . He whispers for Sabine to take the Jedi Ezra down a peg or two . Sabine and Ezra resume their training exercise . When Ezra asks what she has , Sabine remarks that she has got more things then he can handle . Ezra jokes about not going easy on her this time . The two parry with sticks and Sabine uses her Mandalorian vambrace to unleash a sonic boom that knocks Ezra to the ground . After some parrying , Sabine manages to knock Ezra to the ground and points her stick at him . Ezra complaints that the vambrace gives her an unfair advance and asks where she got them . Sabine says " special delivery " while Rau snickers in the background . When Kanan asks Sabine if she is playing a game , she replies she is just outsmarting her opponent . Sabine then uses her vambrace to wrap a cord around Kanan . Despite being blind , Kanan uses his lightsaber to break free and knock Sabine to the ground . Kanan gives Sabine a history lesson that the Jedi won the war and that these tricks will not keep her alive in the long run . He warns her that only training and discipline will keep her alive in the long run . An exasperated Sabine remarks that Ezra must be really gifted to learn from a " lousy " teacher like Kanan . She drops the stick and storms off into the cave to spend some time alone . The Interregnum . While Sabine is contemplating , Ezra visits her to encourage her to persevere . He explains that Kanan may not be the easiest teacher but he means well . Sabine responds that she knows how to fight and reiterates her belief that she can learn to use that sword but doesn ' t want everything that comes with it . When Ezra asks her about her family , Sabine says that her family regards her as a traitor and disgrace . Ezra says that is not true but Sabine replies that he does not know her . Unable to come to terms with her family problems , Sabine believes she can ' t lead her people . Ezra apologizes but tells her at least she has parents to go back to unlike him . Sabine realizes that Ezra is right and starts to walk away . The Bendu then surfaces as the rock where Ezra and Sabine had been talking as he looks at her with pondering look . Back at the rebel camp , Hera reassures Kanan that teaching Ezra was not easy but that he did it well . Hera tells Kanan that he will find a away to get to Sabine . Kanan explains that Ezra was much more eager to learn . Hera then points out that he is still not allowing Sabine to train with the Darksaber . Kanan responds that Sabine still has not found balance within herself and that it would be too dangerous to let her wield an actual lightsaber . Hera counters that letting Sabine continue fighting with sticks will inhibit her commitment . Kanan fears that Sabine will get hurt but Hera points out that she has already been hurt far worse by her family . Hera tells him that she knows what it is like for people who love you not to believe in you . She urges Kanan to give Sabine the Darksaber so that she can claim ownership and face her demon s . Kanan is reluctant but Hera reminds him that it is not about him . Later that night , Ezra and Rau are sitting by the campfire . When Ezra asks when Sabine will return , Rau cautions patience . Ezra says that Kanan is making Sabine learn everything at once and opines that she needs more time . Rau replies that time is a luxury that the galaxy seems to be running out of . Sabine ' s inner struggle . Sabine soon returns to the camp and walks towards Kanan . Kanan admits that he owes her an apology and she admits the same . He gives her the Darksaber and tells her to take it because it is hers . Sabine ignites the Darksaber blade and finds it surprisingly heavier than she thought it would be . Kanan explains that energy constantly flows through the crystal , generating its weight , and tells her that her thoughts and actions guide the blade ' s power . He adds that her thoughts flow through the crystal and become part of the blade . Kanan ignites his lightsaber and explains that the blades will be drawn to each other before telling her to block high . As the blades intersect , they generate a reaction . Kanan tells that she is clinging to a heavy thought . As the two parry , Kanan tells Sabine to block low , hard , and the middle repetitively . The two continue training and Kanan reminds her to remember the forms that Ezra had taught her . Kanan and Sabine parry with blades and increase their tempo . Kanan manages to knock Sabine to the ground and tells her not to make it easy . The two continue parrying and Sabine is gradually able to strengthen her connection to the blade . Kanan cautions her not to rely solely on the Darksaber and to use all her skills together . Kanan manages to knock the blade out of her hand but she uses the vambrace to grab the blade . The two continue parrying and Kanan manages to knock her to the ground . Ezra tries to intervene but Rau holds him back . Kanan tells Sabine she is not fighting him but herself and that she has to lose herself . While training , Kanan goads Sabine about quitting and running from her people and family . As the two cross their blades , Sabine tells Kanan that she left to save everyone including her mother , her father , and her brother . Sabine reiterates that she did everything she did for her family . Sabine tells Kanan that she helped the Empire to build weapons but that the Empire then used them on her friends and family . Sabine condemns herself for her role in helping the Empire to enslave her people as she continues to parry with Kanan . She explains that she spoke out to save everyone and manages to knock Kanan to the ground . When Sabine spoke out , her family did not stand with her but sided with the Empire . Sabine reveals that her family left her with no choice . The Empire wanted to destroy worlds and they have destroyed hers . Sabine then breaks down weeping . A sympathetic Kanan tells her that the Empire rules through fear and that her family are living in a prison of their own making . He tells her she can free them . When Sabine asks why they would want to follow her , Fenn Rau and Ezra pledge to stand by her . Kanan reiterates that " this family " will follow her whatever she chooses .