The Star Wars franchise boasts of a plethora of memorable characters and their even more memorable lightsabers. One such character is the Jedi Master Mace Windu. The revered Force-sensitive human male from Haruun Kal was a master duelist and a champion of the Jedi Order (serving as an elected leader of the council and a Jedi General during the Clone Wars).
However, Mace Windu’s grim personality, unparalleled dueling skills, and leadership weren’t the only things that made him stand out. As a matter of fact, the very first thing that caught the eye of fans when the Jedi Master made his first appearance in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was his unique, never-before-seen purple-bladed lightsaber.
Today, nearly 3 decades after the release of Phantom Menace, Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber remains one of the rarest blades in the Star Wars universe. So, what is the reason behind this unique blade colour? And why is it so rare? Read on to find out.
Why Mace Windu’s Lightsaber Is Purple (Canon Explanation)
According to the Star Wars canon, the reason why the Mace Windu lightsaber has a purple blade is because of Windu’s relationship with both the light and dark side of the Force. In Star Wars canon, lightsabers get their colours from kyber crystals which are force-imbued gems that originally appear colourless but take on a colour after a Force-user attunes (bonds) with them.
Since the colour of a kyber crystal takes on usually reflects its owner’s Force relationship, skills, and personality, many believe that the purple colour of Mace Windu’s blade is a reflection of his personality, his walk between the light and dark side, and his unique mastery of the Force.
Why Mace Windu’s Lightsaber Is Purple (Legends Explanation)
In Star Wars Legends, the reason behind Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber is quite different. Here, lightsaber crystals come in different colours, and with the help of the Force, these crystals call out to a specific Jedi whose roles and Force connections coincide with the symbolism behind each crystal’s colour.
For example, the colour blue represents bravery, justice, and righteousness, which is why blue lightsabers were mostly used by Jedi Guardians and individuals (Jedi) who use the Force on a more physical level.
In the case of purple lightsaber crystals, they symbolise a balance between the light side and the dark side of the Force, and since Mace Windu had an affinity for both the light and dark side, his lightsaber crystal was purple.
Windu’s lightsaber had a purple crystal which was given to him as a gift while on a mission to the planet Hurikane.
Why Mace Windu’s Purple Lightsaber is so Rare
Mace Windu had a lot of extraordinary things about him, from his wisdom as a Jedi Master and Council member to his incredible fighting style and mastery of the Force. It only makes sense that his lightsaber would be extraordinary, too.
His lightsaber is very rare for a number of reasons. First, the saber has a unique purple crystal, which is quite rare in both Star Wars canon and legends. The hilt of his lightsaber was also designed with a very rare metal known as electrum (electrum detailing), and this was a modification reserved for only high-ranking members of the Jedi Council. Electrum detailing on a lightsaber also signifies mastery of the Force.
This unique combination of a rare purple lightsaber crystal and a rare electrum hilt design is one of the reasons why Mace Windu’s lightsaber is so rare.
Mace Windu also had unique abilities with his purple lightsaber. Since a lightsaber is essentially an extension of its wielder, Windu’s personality, fighting style, and connection to the Force influenced the colour of his saber’s blade. With the weapon, he was able to learn certain techniques and acquire unique abilities that many other Force-users couldn’t. A good example of this is his mastery of the deadly lightsaber fighting style known as Form VII: Vaapad.
This lightsaber fighting form is as deadly to a master as it is to an opponent. The form embraces aggressiveness and a lot of dark emotions during combat. Very few Jedi have been able to master the form without being consumed by the dark side. So, the fact that Mace Windu was able to master this form further adds to the uniqueness of him and his lightsaber.
Conclusion
As far as lightsaber blade colours go, a purple blade colour is one of the rarest in the Star Wars universe. Mace Windu was the only character who wielded a purple lightsaber in the movies, and the rarity of his lightsaber boils down to its unique purple kyber crystal, its one-of-a-kind electrum hilt, and, of course, Windu’s personality and relationship with the Force.
