The lightsaber, as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi puts it, is “an eloquent weapon of a more civilized age.” It has often been incorporated in Star Wars media as a means of illustrating its wielder’s inner temperament and character arc. From its initial assembly of components to the selection of the Kyber Crystal that powers its burning blade, the lightsaber represents a journey in and of itself.
Nowhere is that demonstrated more strongly than with one of the franchise’s most popular and enduring icons, Ahsoka Tano, using not just one, but four separate variations of the Jedi weapon across multiple shows and appearances!
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Asoka Tano’s First Green Single Bladed Lightsaber
When Ahsoka first appeared in Season One of the ‘Clone Wars’ cartoon pilot episodes and theatrical release, she used a green single-bladed lightsaber. It’s quite ordinary compared to those used by the rest of the Jedi Order. It features a cylindrical silver metal hilt with very little ornamentation or distinctive shape. It can be assumed it comes with all the standard parts of other lightsabers from the period, as seen in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary (2015) and Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (1998), balancing real scientific components with fiction.
These include power batteries such as the Kyber Crystal and diatium power cell, which, when combined and focused through different lenses, create the plasma blade. This in turn is confined into the proper length by a magnetic field generated by a magnetic stabilizing ring resting at the top of the hilt.
An activation stud and self-explanatory blade adjustment knob can also be seen on Ahsoka’s saber, which uses inner mechanics such as cycling field energizers and a crystal energy chamber from which the plasma emanates to function. It boasts a semi-unique feature called a bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulse, or waterproof casing, as demonstrated by its functioning underwater in the ‘Clone Wars’ series. Toward the bottom of the hilt is a belt ring and hand-grip attachment for ease of transport.
Like all lightsabers before the rise of the Galactic Empire the Kyber Crystal within was collected from the planet Ilum during a ceremonial “Gathering” as a rite of passage for new Padawan learners. Only after the Kyber Crystal that quite literally called out to her was harvested by Ahsoka did it take its recognizable green color.
Why is Ahsoka’s Lightsaber Green?
Green is generally associated with Jedi Consulars, one of three paths Jedi Knights may choose to follow after they pass their trials. Consulars are known to be especially strong in the Force and thoughtful in its application. The center of their attention firmly resides in unraveling the mysteries surrounding the different aspects of the Force, such as the Physical, Cosmic, Unifying, and especially the Living.
Given how many times Ahsoka creatively utilized her abilities in the ‘Clone Wars’ to save herself and her friends this probably extends to cleverness as well.
Her very first mission on Christophis she saved Anakin Skywalker’s life by telekinetically pulling a damaged wall down around to destroy a squadron of droids while he remained unharmed. In another instance she used it to levitate a thermal detonator into a trio of enemy observation copes to launch a devastating surprise attack. When chasing down Jedi Librarian Jocasta Nu’s shape-shifting imposter in the Season Two premiere of Clone Wars, Ahsoka uses the distraction of her pursuit to move a chair in front of her target to trip them up.
It’s only a few instances of many that earn Ahsoka that color-coded badge of intellect. She used this particular lightsaber for much of the Clone Wars conflict, specifically up until the ninth episode of the third season. She faced down enemies such as Sith Apprentice Asajj Ventress, Seperatist Leader General Grievous, and Bounty Hunter Cad Bane with an unorthodox reverse-grip combat style that’s instantly recognizable. Her prowess with the lightsaber culminated in the addition of a second to her arsenal.
Asoka Tano’s Yellowish-Green Lightsaber Addition,
Following Season Three, Episode 10, “Heroes on Both Sides” of ‘Clone Wars,’ Ahsoka Tano is seen sporting a brand-new shoto-style lightsaber in the plain aesthetic style of the first that would be dual-wielded with her current green lightsaber. Only this time the shoto is oriented with a smaller-sized blade extending about three-quarters the standard model’s height for ease of use with appropriate fighting styles. The shoto blade, unlike Ahsoka’s original, is a distinct greenish-yellow.
Why is Ahsoka’s New Lightsaber Yellowish Green?
The slight variation of color on top of the original green gives the shoto a similar appearance to yellow lightsaber pikes used by Jedi Sentinels charged with protecting the Jedi Temple. The Sentinel is yet another path available to the Jedi Knight. They preferred to balance the more contemplative Consular style with the skill-driven third path, the Jedi Guardian, to approach problems with well-rounded solutions. They would often be found working directly with the citizens of the galaxy as opposed to quietly meditating far removed and indulged in the more technical tasks otherwise ignored by other Jedi.
That Ahsoka’s shoto lightsaber is yellow is more than a simple reference to the nature of their duties and what that particular path entails. It can also be interpreted as a milestone for Ahsoka growing into her role as a Jedi whilst still maintaining the wisdom obtained from years of real first-hand experience.
Ahsoka prefers to work next to the people she is supposed to protect, going out of her way on multiple occasions to help when other Jedi necessarily wouldn’t. She also served as an ambassador on important diplomatic missions.
More direct examples of her method would surface in Season Three, Episode Twenty-One, “Padawan Lost,” where she assists a group of abducted younglings to defend themselves against their captors. In Season Four, Episode Twelve, “Slaves of the Republic,” she goes undercover to liberate the people of Krios from Zygerrian slavers. More than being a people person, she also shows a knack for technology. Following her leaving the Jedi Order she worked as a mechanic in the underbelly of Coruscant. Ahsoka continued to front that image in the ‘Ahsoka’ novel after the Republic fell.
Finally, her alignment with the Sentinel balancing act would allow her to better incorporate the second shoto-style lightsaber into her existing combat skills, as seen in the animated “Forces of Destiny” episode “Teach You, I Will.”
Asoka Tano’s Blue Dual Wielded Lightsabers
A dramatic arc in Season Five of ‘Clone Wars’ saw Ahsoka framed for an attack on the Jedi Temple by fallen Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee and the former leaving the Order for good. Ahsoka’s lightsabers remained with her former master until their reunion in Season Seven, Episode Nine “Old Friends Not Forgotten.”
Before she leaves to face Dark Side-tyrant Maul at the Siege of Mandalore, Anakin presents Ahsoka with a box containing her refurbished lightsabers, “Good as new.” When she finds he has modified them with blue Kyber Crystals instead of her traditional green, Anakin gives her a crafty smile. “Maybe a little bit better.” Outside of the change in color spectrum they remain almost exactly the same as they’ve always appeared in the show.
Why are Ahsoka’s Lightsabers Blue?
Matching the deep blue lightsabers of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other adherents to the Jedi Guardian path, this yet again marks a step forward for Ahsoka’s maturity as a character.
Jedi Guardian’s are the soldiers of the Order, pooling their talent points into strength, dexterity, and of course, an aptitude for melee combat. Of all others they see combat the most, and are at the front lines in all Jedi conflicts and wherever the peace needs to be reestablished.
Though she is no longer a member of the Jedi by this point Ahsoka is a fully grown warrior. Her skill rivals even the best of her former compatriots and she can hold her own against some of the toughest enemies in the canon with little assistance.
She carried these sabers into an epic battle with Maul at the Siege of Mandalore and came out on top. Following the execution of Order 66, with her former 501st Legion clone companions under the influence of a mind-controlling inhibitor chip—a crisis that killed thousands of Jedi her senior.
Unfortunately, it is unknown what happened to the shoto lightsaber after Ahsoka’s escape from the compromised clone ship ‘Tribunal,’ which carried both her and an imprisoned Maul back from Mandalore. When the ship crash-lands onto an icy moon and kills nearly everyone on board except for Ahsoka and a de-chipped Captain Rex, it is clearly seen still strapped to her side all the way up until her final scene in the show. She decides to bury her dead comrades and leave her original single-bladed lightsaber at their graves.
It is implied in the ‘Ahsoka’ novel that she left them both behind on the moon.
What Happened to Ahsoka’s Blue Lightsabers?
It would not be found until many years later when Anakin Skywalker, now Darth Vader, recognizes the hilt and hue of his apprentice’s lightsaber. The initial presentation of Ahsoka’s modified weapons and these final moments of the show best illustrate the bond they shared as master and student.
Whereas igniting the blue blades for the first time showed Ahsoka’s continued growth as a hero, it’s also indicative of Anakin’s tendency for attachments that were ultimately his undoing. In an episode of “Clone Wars Download” on YouTube, ‘Clone Wars’ exec producer Dave Filoni even states as much. “[Anakin] tinkering with her lightsabers while she is gone shows that he is always thinking of her. And the lightsabers are then a representation of her in the story…”
Ahsoka’s ultimate abandonment of Jedi ideals both through necessity and personal choice is only made more obvious with her eventual construction of a new pair of lightsabers.
Asoka Tano’s White Lightsabers
According to the ‘Ahsoka’ novel, the exiled former Jedi made her new saber and shoto-blade approximately a year after the end of the Clone Wars. First, she took her components from scavenged scrap collected from the planet Thabeska during her time as a mechanic. Then, she powered them with a purified bleeding Kyber Crystal taken from one of Vader’s Inquisitors, the Sixth Brother, using a specialized crystal mount taken from his double-bladed lightsaber. The resulting color of the Kyber purification process is a stark grey-white contrast to any saber seen in the canon thus far.
Over time Ahsoka improved her weapons into curved ornate hilts with rectangular contour. The shades of the blade remained for decades to come.
Why are Ahsoka’s Lightsabers White?
After discovering that the Empire had been strip-mining the planet Ilum for its Kyber Crystals in the ‘Ahsoka’ novel, Ahsoka reached out through the Force in order to locate a new pair of which she could use to construct her lightsabers. She sensed two Kyber Crystals calling out to her from the farming moon Raada. There she followed their “song” straight to the Sixth Brother Inquisitor.
The conflict, taking place in the 28th chapter of the novel, was short. Ahsoka force-pulled the crystals from the hilt of the Sixth Brother’s double-bladed saber and caused it to explode, killing him instantly:
“Before she could even consider shouting a warning, the red lightsaber burst into a mess of noise and light. Bright spots pricked at her eyes, and then all was quiet. The creature wasn’t going to bother her anymore,” Chapter 28, ‘Ahsoka.’
Once she got a good look at the crystals she realized they had been turned red from their original color in a process called Bleeding. This is accomplished by a practitioner of the Dark Side channeling their inner rage and hatred directly into the crystal until it transforms into a deep crimson. To reverse this process Ahsoka meditated on them as she assembled her lightsabers from the scrap that she’d gathered, counteracting its corrupted nature with her own dominant force of will.
“She pushed aside her sense of urgency, even though she was in a hurry. Meditation came easily, as if she were sitting in safety in the Jedi Temple itself, instead of a dusty street with her enemies closing in. Her mind’s eye sorted the preassembled components and those she had just retrieved into order, locking each into place with the others. When Ahsoka opened her hands, she was not surprised to find that two lightsabers, rough and unfinished, were waiting.
They would need more work, but they were hers.
When she turned them on, they shone the brightest white.”
Chapter 28, ‘Ahsoka.’
Following their first reveal in the Season One finale for Star Wars Rebels, David Filoni explicitly states in the StarWars.com video “Rebels Recon: Inside “Fire Across the Galaxy” that the blades “are white to reflect her non-affiliation with the Jedi or Sith.” She became someone capable of resisting the total pull to the Dark Side of the Force but not above rejecting her own personal feelings in a misguided attempt to control them. The conflicts Ahsoka involves herself with the white sabers reflect this well.
Her fateful duel with Darth Vader in the final two episodes of the Season Two Star Wars Rebels finale, “Twilight of the Apprentice” is brought about by her desire to find her former master. When she finds he is beyond saving, she’s more than willing to avenge his former self. “Revenge is not the Jedi Way,” Vader retorts. Ahsoka ignites her lightsabers: “I am no Jedi.”
What Lightsaber Form does Ahsoka Use?
Ahsoka’s martial prowess in various forms of lightsaber combat would continue to mature alongside her weapons as the series advanced.
She was originally trained in the basic Form I Shii-Cho style with her single-bladed green lightsaber. This form is the most rudimentary collection of lightsaber combat techniques, resembling more direct and ordinary swordplay seen elsewhere across the galaxy unaided by the Force. Offensive attacks are broadly swung with intent to cut anything in its path. The user would then always reset to defense to take advantage of any openings provided by the initial assault.
Ahsoka’s under-handed style complements this style of aggressive defense as well. This would help her master the much quicker Form IV, Ataru. This particular mode of combat incorporates acrobatic athletics in order to overpower the enemy with a near-unstoppable flurry of blows, intended to end the fight swiftly. The Force was applied to make the fluid movements even faster, trading the defensive emphasis of Shii-Cho for pure exertion of ability. As such, it was dangerous to use if the wielder had no other blocks or parries in their arsenal.
Following the advice of Master Yoda to apply her own personality and style to new lessons, Ahsoka goes on to prefer dual-handed martial arts such as Jar’Kai. This prioritized the use of a lightsaber in conjunction with another weapon, typically another saber. The user defends with one weapon in hand and attacks swiftly with the other. Ahsoka would combine her mastery of Form V Shien style, a lightsaber combat variant emphasizing defense against blaster bolts, with her unique under-handed shoto lightsaber method to create a formidable defensive style.
This refined mastery helps her escape situation after situation time and time again throughout the Clone Wars, the fall of the Jedi Order, and decades beyond.
Ahsoka’s Switch to Dual-Wielding Lightsabers
It is never explicitly stated in the ‘Clone Wars’ series, ‘Rebels,’ or ‘The Mandalorian’ why Ahsoka chose to adopt a second shoto lightsaber. According to the StarWars.com website it appears to have been because of her natural talents as a “skilled duelist” and it was the logical next step in her combat career. This is almost certainly the case, as she demonstrates an aptitude for survival far beyond her fellow Jedi.
Notable Fights Ahsoka had with her lightsabers
Asoka’s Fights with the Single Bladed Green Lightsaber
Duel with Ventress
In Season One, Episode Nine of Clone Wars, “Cloak of Darkness,” Ahsoka meets her first real challenge as a Jedi-in-training in Asajj Ventress. At this stage Ahsoka was still very “green” and barely survived the confrontation. It’s possible her indirect defeat at the hands of a dual-wielding Dark Side user influenced her decision to later adopt the style for herself.
This took place aboard the Republic ship ‘Tranquility’ as the Clone occupants transport Seperatist leader ViceRoy Gunray to Coruscant for trial. After Ventress intervenes and Ahsoka taunts her into a duel, they fight for a short well in the prison deck before Asajj sets Gunray free and uses Ahsoka’s momentum against her to knock into the cell. She is saved by Jedi Knight Luminara, but Ventress escapes.
Duel with Barriss Offee
Though perhaps not as difficult as some of her other foes in the physical sense, in Episode Nineteen of Season Five, “To Catch a Jedi,” Ahsoka is ambushed by her friend Barriss Offee, in disguise, while looking for clues on who framed her for bombing the Jedi Temple. That said, Ahsoka is almost overpowered by the sudden ferocity of the attack.
Though by this time Ahsoka had acquired her shoto saber, she only had her original green single-blade available. This lack of advantage against Offee’s dual-handed style keeps Ahsoka on her toes as Offee uses the Force and the surrounding warehouse environment to gain the upper hand.
Offee knocks Ahsoka into submission with a steam explosion and then proceeds to brutally assault her with physical contact until she falls down to the next floor. She is incapacitated and captured by a Clone response team before she can explain her discoveries.
Asoka’s Notable Duels with her Green-Yellow Lightsaber
Duel with Anakin and Obi-Wan
In Season Three, Episode Sixteen of ‘Clone Wars,’ “Altar of Mortis,” Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker are trapped on the strange world of Mortis by the Mortis Gods, the Father, the Son, and Daughter. Before they are able to leave Ahsoka is captured by the Son and corrupted to the Dark Side by his influence. Impassioned and enraged, Ahsoka turns on her Master and Obi-Wan with her primary saber.
She attacks Anakin ferociously as he pleads her to stop, barely repelling her. When Obi-Wan leaps into the fray, Ahsoka ignites her shoto and engages them both, twice as angry as before. She sees Obi-Wan has a special dagger that would free her of the Son’s influence and attempts to return it to him. She succeeds, but the Son taps her forehead and drains her of her life-force. If not for the Daughter’s using the last of her power to bring her back to consciousness, Ahsoka would have perished.
Duel with Pre Vizsla
In one of the rare occasions that Ahsoka faced a difficult enemy who wasn’t a Force user, Season Four, Episode Fourteen of ‘Clone Wars,’ “Friend in Need,” saw her going up the Mandalorian fringe leader Pre Vizsla, who holds her captive and intends to execute her with the dark saber. The droid R2-D2 performs a daring rescue and delivers Ahsoka’s lightsabers back into her arms. She takes down four separate Mandalorians as she cuts her bonds.
Before the others can step in, Pre Vizsla insists on facing her himself. She is on the defensive for the most of the duel. Ahsoka uses gymnastic maneuvers to evade his assertive attacks until she is kicked out of their tent into the snow outside where her allies lie in wait. While they and the other Mandalorians are occupied, Pre Vizsla keeps pushing Ahsoka. She uses a defensive dodge to cut his jetpack, causing it to explode and allowing her to escape.
Duel with General Grievous
A true mark of Ahsoka’s progression as a warrior is Season Five, Episode Nine “A Necessary Bond,” where she finally goes toe-to-toe with General Grievous himself.
Taking place in difficult desert-like terrain on the planet Florrum, Ahsoka fends off the Seperatist warlord to give his intended targets—a group of Jedi younglings—time to escape. Grievous unveils his four robotic arms and pushes Ahsoka to her absolute limit. It’s only thanks to her Force abilities she has any chance at all. She only has to stall him until her ship is ready to depart. She utilizes her superior athleticism to get around her hulking obstacle.
Asoka Tano’s Notable Duels with her Dual Wielded Blue Lightsabers
Duel with Maul
In the epic four-episode finale of the ‘Clone Wars’ series, Episode Ten “The Phantom Apprentice,” pits two of the greatest students in the galaxy against one another in Maul and Ahsoka. Though Maul intended to lure Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to Mandalore in order to kill them and disrupt Lord Sidious’ plans, it was Ahsoka who arrived to stop him. She even considers helping him destroy Sidious until he reveals his true intentions in the throne room of the Mandalorian capital. After that it’s no holds barred.
To capture the truly fantastic scale of this duel executive producer Dave Filoni tapped live-action Maul actor Ray Park to motion-capture the action with his real movements. In the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Official Featurette “Maul vs. Ahsoka,” Ray Park discusses some of the moves used to enrich the acrobatic-heavy conflict. “We’re trying to do as much as we can,” he says in an interview. “Butterfly twists. Flips and corkscrews.”
Stunt performer Lauren Mary Kim was also brought in to portray Ahsoka’s lithe fighting style. She uses two representative lightsabers to attack quickly and gracefully. “There’s a timing to it,” Ray Park notes of Lauren. “There’s a beat. It’s like you’re dancing. You feel an energy from the other person.”
Kieth Kellog, the animation supervisor for the show, mentions that the motion capture was then combined with the Clone Wars’ exaggerated aesthetics in order to bring out the best of both worlds. “Faster lightsaber hits. A little higher jumping. Stronger poses.” The result is nothing short of spectacular, spanning the throne room to the rafters high above the city.
Compared to other duels in the series Ahsoka tends to keep Maul on the ropes for the duration of the fight while providing an even back-and-forth. She gets the best of Maul when he missteps and nearly falls to his death. Ahsoka keeps him levitating with the Force until back-up arrives.
Duel with the Clones
In Episode Eleven, Season Seven of ‘Clone Wars,’ “Shattered ,” Lord Sidious’ plans finally came to fruition and Order 66 is executed. This turns every clone in the Grand Army of the Republic against their Jedi Commanders, including Ahsoka. Beginning in the bridge of the ship ‘Tribunal,’ Ahsoka fends off her brothers-in-arms while trying to find a way to isolate Captain Rex and de-program him.
This fight to escape is unique because she is explicitly trying not to hurt anyone. Ahsoka relies on wit and some help from friendly droids to keep moving. Her mastery of the Shien variant is never more prominent than it is here, having to fend off hundreds of blaster bolts at once.
Asoka Tano’s Most Notable Duels with her Dual Wielded White Lightsabers
Duel with Darth Vader
Many years following their last meeting, Ahsoka and Anakin Skywalker finally reunite in the “Twilight of the Apprentice,” the Season Two Finale of ‘Rebels.’ Only this time it’s as enemies.
Atop the pinnacle of a Sith temple they struggle to best each other—Ahsoka holds out for her quick, duel-wielding and Anakin/Darth Vader for his sheer robotic strength. No clear winner is evident, pending Ahsoka catching him off-guard and slicing open his helmet to reveal her former Master underneath. She elects to stay behind and confront him further while her allies flee the crumbling temple.
It’s unclear who actually bests who before Jedi acolyte Ezra Bridger later pulls her through time to safety.
Duel with Morgan Elspeth on The Mandalorian
Ahsoka makes her very first live-action appearance in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season Two Episode “The Jedi,” and she’s still rocking the white-lightsbers as she attempts to free a village from a tyrannical Imperial regime.
The climax of the episode pits her against Imperial Magistrate Morgan Elspeth, portrayed by real-life martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto, who carries a spear of pure beskar. This is one of the only materials in the Star Wars universe that can hold off a lightsaber.
In the quiet spaces of Elspeth’s garden they have a showdown of Kirosawa proportions, staring each other down with intent and patiently prodding each other for weaknesses. Ahsoka uses Ataru style at first to defend when Elspeth steps up the energy. She is actually disarmed of her primary lightsaber during this exchange. Forced to rely on her under-handed shoto grip and Form I, Ahsoka disarms Elspeth right back and wins the duel.
What Martial Art does Ahsoka’s Style Resemble in Real Life?
Though most lightsaber fights in the Star Wars saga are heavily inspired by Japanese Kendo and European fencing, the more specific styles such as Forms I, IV, and V are meant to capture the cinematic quality of the duel than any practical martial art.
Form I is described in both canon and Legends sources as being wild and sweeping as a lightsaber’s cutting ability doesn’t need to be precise as a real sword. Flailing any realistic arms immediately gives off the impression that the user is inexperienced. Form I’s focus on disarming rather than disabling far removes it from any legitimate practice.
Further, the incorporation of outrageous acrobatic movements in Form IV, Ataru, denotes an unrealistic expense of energy and foot-work that would get any non-Force user killed in an actual fight. Because it drains the user very quickly, even in-universe using Ataru can quickly face-plant the wielder without deferring to more defensive techniques.
Lastly, Ahsoka’s mastery of Form V’s Shien variant, used to deflect blaster bolts, is the most fictional of the bunch, even when supplemented with Jar’Kai. It’s impossible to willfully deflect an incoming bullet-like projectile with a sword. Period. And doing so with the intention of quickly following up with a brute counter goes against what is traditionally considered an effective parry in any fencing dojo, which aims to intercept the enemy’s weapon during the wielder’s own attack as opposed to wasting precious moments with two separate actions.
It may look cool and there’s sure to be an inkling of realism in the more methodical duels of the series, as in the case of Ben Kenobi vs. Maul, but with Ahsoka Tano? Like most Star Wars fights it’s pure fantasy and made for the scene.
Ahsoka and her lightsabers going forward
The advent of Ahsoka Tano’s new live-action show provides innumerable opportunities for another iteration of her legendary lightsabers to make a splash. In every appearance, they have been a thematic expression of her growth as a character. Lightsabers continue to be one of the core articulations of the hero’s journey in the saga and Ahsoka’s example is its best application to date. If her most recent tenure in the Mandalorian Season Two is of any indication, there’s an entire spectrum of colored emotion that’s ripe for the screen, and she is sure to deliver in fantastic fashion.