Just a month from now, the blockbuster “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” will officially premiere in many countries around the world, and we can expect to hear a lot of exciting announcements regarding this film in the coming days. Through the trailers released so far, devoted fans have quickly noticed that the character Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones) possesses a Kyber crystal. Kyber crystals are incredibly significant artifacts in the “Star Wars” universe and will play a vital role in the storyline of “Rogue One”.
According to the traditional lore of “Star Wars”, Kyber crystals originate from the planet Jedha. Although this planet has yet to appear in any film, it will be a significant location in “Rogue One”. So why are Kyber crystals important? The most accurate answer is that they serve as a power source for lightsabers. Below, we will explore some intriguing details that you should know about Kyber crystals and lightsabers before watching “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”.
1. Kyber Crystals are also the Power Source for the “Death Star”
The infamous weapon of mass destruction known as the “Death Star” relies on the energy sourced from Kyber crystals. According to the lore of the “Star Wars” universe, a group of Sith known as the Old Republic created this weapon by utilizing Kyber crystals. The technology used was studied and refined by the Galactic Empire to build the “Death Star”.
2. Why do Kyber Crystals Exhibit a “Bleeding” Effect?
Typically, Kyber crystals are mined from their natural state and are embedded into the hilt of a lightsaber. Jedi are the only ones capable of attuning and placing Kyber crystals into their lightsabers successfully. When Sith attempt this process, the Kyber crystals often resist the “Dark Side” of the Force. Once they sense this resistance, the Sith will use their strength to force the crystal into submission, regardless of the consequences. As a result, these crystals exhibit a phenomenon known as “bleeding”.
3. Why do Sith Lightsabers have Red Blades?
When a Kyber crystal is forced into the hilt of a lightsaber, it will begin to bleed, causing the blade to emit a red hue. A Jedi creating their lightsaber through the proper process may find that their blade can come in a variety of colors. Therefore, when a Sith forges their own lightsaber, it will always carry the distinctive red color, with the Kyber crystal also serving as a “signature” of the user.
4. Can a Kyber Crystal Revert to Its Original State?
Once a Kyber crystal has been forced to bleed and turn red, it becomes incredibly difficult to “purify” it. However, this process can still happen and is depicted in the animated series “Star Wars Rebels”. In this series, the character Ahsoka Tano, a former apprentice of Anakin Skywalker before he became Darth Vader, managed to purify two Kyber crystals and used them to create her own lightsaber.
5. Kyber Crystals Can Be Used to Create Various Types of Weapons
In the animated series “Star Wars Rebels”, Kyber crystals are shown to have another function: they can be used to create various types of weapons. For instance, a character named Ezra Bridger is able to harness a Kyber crystal to create a unique weapon that not only acts like a blaster but also functions as a lightsaber.
6. The Unique Design of Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber
The cross-guard lightsaber first appeared in “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens,” and its design sparked a lot of debate among fans. This unique lightsaber design shows that it does not merely rely on one method to create a lightsaber. While most lightsabers feature a single plasma blade, Kylo Ren’s weapon is notably different.
Why is that? The reason is that when a Kyber crystal is placed into the hilt, it can occasionally crack. This cracked Kyber crystal emits a larger energy source and produces a more unstable blade. To mitigate this instability, the creators designed the hilt to allow energy to flow in both directions.
Source: Moviepilot
