Double - bladed lightsaber / Legends The double - bladed lightsaber — also called a Saberstaff , Lightsaber Lance , Doublesaber , Dualsaber , or Lightstaff , was a specialized type of lightsaber that consisted of a single hilt with a beam emitter at both ends , resulting in a weapon that was wielded in a similar manner to a traditional quarterstaff . Indeed , the design was likely influenced by the Zabrak quarterstaff , or zhaboka . The double - bladed lightsaber was first invented by Dark Lords of the Old Sith Empire . However , many weapons of its design later came into the possession of the Sith ' s ancient adversary , the Jedi . Specifications . The original double - bladed lightsabers devised by the original Dark Lords of the Sith Empire were of a sophisticated design , consisting of a single lightsaber mechanism with two sets of emitters , one on either end of the hilt . One of the finest examples of such a weapon was the lightsaber of Exar Kun , which was converted from a standard lightsaber after Kun procured the schematics from a Sith holocron . The doublesaber design was simplified in later years , retaining a single mechanism , but featuring an enlarged hilt . Whether this was an intentional design change or simply the result of contemporary manufacturers being incapable of replicating the original mechanism is unknown . However , most saberstaff designs were extremely simplistic , consisting of two separate lightsabers with connected pommels , rather than a single mechanism . This design , while less elaborate , also resulted in a considerably lengthened handle , though it otherwise remained the same . The primary purpose of the double - bladed lightsaber was to allow for a faster rate of attack , unleashing a rapid assault with only a minimum of movement , " more slaughter per swing " as some put it . Saberstaffs were also excellent defensive weapons , as the doubled length of the weapon provided more surface area for deflecting and parrying . In addition to the practical benefits of the weapon , it also possessed a great psychological impact . The dual - blades increased the visual impact of the weapon , and in combat , opponents would intuitively try to track the blades separately rather than as a single weapon , overwhelming them . The extra blade also served to surprise opponents or counter them , as demonstrated by Savage Opress during his duel with Darth Sidious on Mandalore . Opress struck out at Sidious with only one blade activated , but when Sidious attempted to attack Opress , he merely activated the second blade to deflect the blow . The two blades also made the saber - throw technique more deadly as the extra blade allowed for twice as many kills , especially if thrown into a crowd of people , again demonstrated by Opress on Mustafar , where he decapitated five Black Sun leaders with one throw by hurling it down the conference table they were seated at . However , despite all of the advantages offered by the weapon , its weaknesses were equally obvious . Special training was required to wield the weapon effectively , with those attempting to use it without such discipline likely to bisect or impale themselves . Attacking and parrying with the double - bladed lightsaber was limited by the fact that , unlike a normal lightsaber , one could not simply readjust their posture , as the saberstaff required them to hold it either horizontally or diagonally while fighting . The techniques employable with a double - bladed lightsaber were extremely limited , as the second blade rendered many positions and movements impossible to execute , or required the wielder to twist oneself awkwardly around the weapon to do so . Many techniques required the user to perform elaborate flourishes in order to move the staff around their body , leaving them open , and any sort of fighting method that focused on power or penetration was difficult to apply . Also , the enlarged hilt common to most double - bladed lightsabers presented a large target , difficult to defend . Opponents would often attempt to employ the " sun djem " contact mark , with even experienced saberstaff wielders being vulnerable to this tactic . However , a duelist who used the more contemporary saberstaff design had a fallback option in case of this ; with a separate lightsaber mechanism for each emitter , at least one half of the weapon was very likely to continue functioning if it was sundered . Others may have constructed two single - bladed lightsabers that could be attached to each other , and both could continue to function . For a Jar ' Kai user like Asajj Ventress , this afforded several advantages . Due to these many drawbacks , most duelists opted for the standard , single - bladed lightsaber as opposed to this specialized weapon . However , this provided most double - bladed lightsaber wielders with an additional edge as their opponents lacked any experience against such a weapon , though even this edge could be countered by something as simple as quarterstaff training , preparing a duelist to engage someone wielding a saberstaff . History . Use during the Sith Wars . The original double - bladed lightsabers were created by the Old Sith Empire , hence the name " Sith lightsaber , " who also apparently designed the modern standard lightsaber . However , the weapon didn ' t appear until the Great Sith War against Exar Kun ' s Brotherhood of the Sith . Kun converted his original Jedi lightsaber into a saberstaff , basing the design on schematics obtained from a Sith holocron . He first brandished the weapon on Coruscant while rescuing his captured apprentice Ulic Qel - Droma , confronting his former Jedi master , Vodo - Siosk Baas , who was slain by his former apprentice after Kun unsheathed the second blade . The Jedi were utterly unprepared for this weapon , having never seen anything like it . Kun ' s lightsaber remained forgotten on Yavin IV until it was retrieved by the Jedi Shadow Celeste Morne , who was searching for Sith artifacts to be stored by the extremist Jedi Covenant . The lightsaber remained in Odryn repository for several years before being stolen by the Moomo Brothers . The weapon changed hands several times before falling into the hands of Antos Wyrick , who later donated it to Jarael . Jarael wielded it against her old enemy and rival , as well as Wyrick ' s daughter , Chantique , and would have killed her had she not been stopped by Zayne Carrick . Unfortunately , the lightsaber fell into Chantique ' s hand and it amplified her Force powers . When Wyrick attempted to procure a lightsaber to wield against the later disarmed Chantique , he accidentally took up Kun ' s , impaling both himself and his daughter on the twin blades . Carrick then gave the weapon to the Jedi Council for safekeeping . During the Jedi Civil War , double - bladed lightsabers became very popular among the Sith forces , with even some Jedi wielding the weapon . However , the Jedi Council traditionally frowned on the use of saberstaffs , believing a traditional lightsaber was enough , and considering the double - bladed lightsaber little more than a weapon designed to kill more effectively , while the Jedi developed the lightsaber to defend . Though there was no rule forbidding its use , the Jedi discouraged their students from attempting to create or use this weapon . Despite this , even some Jedi Masters , such as Zez - Kai Ell , took up the weapon . During the resurgence of the old Sith Empire , saberstaffs were a favored weapon of both the Sith inquisitor caste and the Jedi Consular , though they were wielded by numerous individuals . Notable wielders included the Sith Darth Thanaton , Vindican , Barel Ovair , Jaesa Willsaam , and Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan . However , despite their popularity among these groups , double - bladed lightsabers remained relatively obscure weapons , most duelists preferring the standard single - blade . During the reign of Lord Skere Kaan and his Brotherhood of Darkness , saberstaff training was made readily available , the Korriban academy swordmaster , Kas ' im favored such a weapon . When Darth Bane set about establishing his Rule of Two , he provided his apprentice , Darth Zannah , with saberstaff training . Few Jedi took up the weapon , a notable being Sarro Xaj , as the Order continued to frown on the use of it . Usage during the Rise of the Empire . Over the course of the following millennia , double - bladed lightsabers faded into obscurity . While the Jedi occasionally used them for training purposes , their use in actual combat became virtually unheard of . For this reason , the emergence of the saberstaff - wielding Darth Maul was a massive shock . Darth Maul originally crafted his unique weapon in a display of tactical skill ; dispatched by his master to assassinate the Jedi Master Siolo ' urmanka , Maul proved unable to bring down the Jedi through martial prowess , so he fabricated his saberstaff so as to surprise the Jedi . In the ensuing melee , Maul ignited the second blade of his weapon through Manka ' s chest . Maul ' s skill and familiarity with the weapon was thanks to his knowledge of the Iridonian Zhaboka , which his original weapon was created in imitation of . His master , Darth Sidious , would provide Maul with Sith schematics , allowing him to refine the design . Maul would go on to wield his weapon against such noted Jedi duelists as Anoon Bondara and Qui - Gon Jinn , defeating both . Maul was ultimately brought down by Jinn ' s Padawan , Obi - Wan Kenobi , who managed to slash Maul ' s weapon in half . Despite acknowleding the efficiency of the saberstaff , Darth Sidious considered it as only a weapon for barbarians amongst the Sith . During the Clone Wars , double - bladed lightsabers continued to be rare weapons . A notable wielder of the lightsaber was Asajj Ventress , Dark Acolyte and Sith aspirant . Ventress was provided with the Paired lightsabers of the fallen Jedi Komari Vosa , the former student of her current master , Dooku . Ventress trained with the weapon , becoming an adept saberstaff wielder . However , her skills with the weapon proved inadequate to combat such skilled duelists as Mace Windu , Anakin Skywalker , or Obi - Wan Kenobi . Skywalker himself provided his Padawan , Ahsoka Tano , with quarterstaff training in order to prepare her for a saberstaff wielding opponent . Savage Opress , Dark Acolyte and brother to Darth Maul , also wielded a double - bladed lightsaber , although his skill with the weapon was little more than brutish hack and slash , though still good enough to not injure himself or his allies . Besalisk Jedi General Pong Krell was unique in that he dual - wielded double - bladed lightsabers , taking advantage of his extra set of arms . Jedi Temple Guards and Jedi Brutes also wielded double - bladed lightsabers , with the former having ones that produced yellow blades . The notorious cyborg Jedi hunter General Grievous also possessed a double - bladed lightsaber ; specifically the weapon carried by Darth Zannah . He kept the lightsaber in the cockpit of his personal fighter , the " Soulless One " , though it remains unknown whether or not he trained with it . The weapon was later given to N - K Necrosis , an advanced droid construct created from Grievous ' cyborg exoskeleton . Saberstaffs were also heavily favored by the Jedi brute s . The brutes were Jedi chosen for their imposing physical build and talent in lightsaber combat . Trained to specialize in lightsaber combat forms III through V , they were devoted towards guarding the Jedi Temple . Though light and dark side users did use these types of lightsabers , the Jedi of old traditionally only permitted those skilled enough in their training to use them , citing how deadly they could be when not used correctly . Usage during the Great Jedi Purge . With the Great Jedi Purge , saberstaffs again fell into obscurity . Already a rare weapon beforehand , the Purge reduced the number of wielders to almost nil . Most of the doublesaber wielding Jedi Brutes were killed during by Darth Vader . One of the few surviving wielders was Jastus Farr , who attended the Conclave on Kessel to determine what was to be done . Vader stormed the gathering , attacking the Jedi . In the ensuing duel , Farr managed to score a hit on the Sith Lord with his double - ended weapon , though Vader in turn managed to procure a cortosis sword from one of the other Jedi , disabling Farr ' s weapon . Unarmed , Farr was gunned down by the newly arrived 501st Legion . Galen Marek ' s training droid , PROXY , also wielded a double - bladed lightsaber . The weapon was one of many provided to the droid by Darth Vader , which he kept stored in his chassis when not in use . PROXY brandished the weapon against Marek on Raxus Prime , activating his Darth Maul combat module in an attempt to execute his primary programming ; randomly attack Marek with lethal force to keep the Force adept sharp . PROXY was defeated , his weapon slashed in two , with both ends being used to pin him against a wall . When Darth Maul was resurrected on Kalakar Six by a Sith splinter cult , he fabricated a new weapon , wielding it against Darth Vader , whom he intended to replace . Both duelists held their own against one another , until Vader slashed Maul ' s weapon in two . Maul used the two halves against Vader in a vicious dual - blade assault , forcing Vader to resort to desperate tactics to survive . Usage during the Jedi reestablishment . When Luke Skywalker reestablished the Jedi Order , he eventually included double - bladed lightsabers among the weapons his students were given access to , making training with them standard . However , beyond the Jedi , only a few groups took up doublesabers during this period . One of the groups to do so was the New Reborn , a reformation of the old group and Sith cult that emerged in 14 ABY , led by Tavion Axmis . Along with dual - blade wielding , saberstaffs was popular within the group , with numerous duelists wielding them . Double - bladed lightsabers continued to be rarely seen weapons for decades . By the time of the Third Jedi Purge in 137 ABY , one of the few Jedi wielders was the Twi ' lek Shado Vao . His weapon was similar to Exar Kun ' s weapon , being only slightly longer than a standard lightsaber so as to pass off as one . However , when fully activated , it appeared to extend outwards to double the length . Saberstaffs were equally rare among the Sith forces , one of the few wielders being Darth Azard . Behind the scenes . The double - bladed lightsaber was originally conceived by " " writer Tom Veitch and artist Christian Gossett . Gossett has said he thought of lightsabers as the personal " honor weapons " of the Jedi , and as such would be more customized to suit personal preference rather than standardized for all . The lightsaber made its first appearance in " " , though it wouldn ' t be made famous until the release of . In the video game " Ratchet And Clank : Up Your Arsenal " there is a cheat code that replaces the melee weapon ( wrench ) with a double - bladed lightsaber , called ' Dual Laser Saber ' . " Jedi Knight : Jedi Academy " mistakenly identifies the double - bladed lightsaber as a two - handed lightsaber . In the video game " " , the double - bladed lightsaber is wielded by the Sith assassin of the advanced Inquisitor class and its light side counterpart , the Jedi Shadow in the advanced Consular class .