Since it first appeared inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, the Darksaber has become one of the most talked-about relics in theStar Warsfandom. The legendary black-bladed saber has a storied past that’s deeply intertwined with the history of Mandalore itself. And much like Mandalore and its inhabitants, the Darksaber seemed relegated to animatedStar Warsfare — until a few years ago.
After becoming a crucial part ofStar Wars Rebels’ later seasons, the Darksaber made its live-action debut inThe Mandalorian. Now, it seems like Din Djarin’s (Pedro Pascal) fate is intertwined with the weapon. So, ahead ofThe MandalorianSeason 3, what is the greater significance of the black-bladed lightsaber, and what makes the Darksaber so special?
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The History Of The Darksaber
Created forThe Clone Warsanimated series, the Darksaber came from the mind of George Lucas himself. TheStar Warscreator envisioned the weapon as something that couldgo up against a lightsaber in combat. Lucasfilm Animation legend Dave Filoni then thought the Darksaber should be a Mandalorian-made weapon. It’s that extra dimension to the Darksaber’s backstory that’s made it a vital part of the galaxy far, far away.
The Mandalorians view the Darksaber as an item of immense cultural value, not just a powerful weapon. Formidable warriors, the ancient Mandalorians were feared throughout the galaxy and cultivated an impressive political influence over other star systems. Outfitted in armor made of Beskar — a unique Mandalorian alloy that’s durable enough to withstand blaster shots and repel lightsaber strikes — the Mandalorians often fought againstthe Jedi Order, as fans ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicknow well.
Who Made The Darksaber?
When Tarre Vizsla became the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order, it was a landmark moment for both the people of Mandalore and the Jedi. Roughly 1000 years before the events of the films, Tarre Vizsla created the Darksaber. The unique lightsaber boasts a flat, black blade and a Beskar hilt. Upon returning to Mandalore, Tarre founded House Vizsla, andthe Darksaber became their symbol. InRebels,Fenn Rau, a Mandalorian and eventual member of the Rebel Alliance, explains:
“[House Vizsla] used the saber to unify the people and strike down those that would oppose them. At one time, they ruled all of Mandalore wielding this blade.”
With the weapon at his side, Tarre Vizslabecame the Mand’alor, the leader of all the warrior clans that make up the Mandalorian people. After Tarre Vizsla died, the Jedi took the Darksaber and stowed it in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. This didn’t sit well with the Mandalorians, who, during the fall of the Old Republic, raided the temple. According to Fenn Rau, members of House Vizsla snuck into the Jedi Temple and “liberated” the Darksaber.
Who Has Wielded The Darksaber?
During The Clone Wars
After centuries of warfare and infighting, the surface of Mandalore became inhospitable, and many Mandalorians decided to give up their warrior ways. Led by Duchess Satine Kryze, these New Mandalorians joined theGalactic Republic. Meanwhile, the Old Mandalorians — warriors who opposed Satine’s pacifist approach — were exiled to the moon Concordia. Among the Old Mandalorians, a terrorist splinter group formed during the Clone Wars in an attempt to overthrow the pacifist government and kill Satine Kryze. Known as the Death Watch (Kyr’tsad), this terrorist cell was led byPre Vizsla, the governor of Concordia and leader of House Vizsla.
Before the Trade Federation’s invasion of Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn were tasked with protecting Satine Kryze and her supporters on behalf of the Galactic Republic. During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan ended up dueling Pre Vizsla,the wielder of the Darksaber.To add salt to the wound, Pre Vizsla and the Death Watch have aligned themselves with Obi-Wan’s nemesis, Darth Maul.
After several failed attempts to reclaim Mandalore, members of Death Watch joined Maul’s Shadow Collective. Eventually, Maul killed Pre Vizsla, claiming the Darksaber, and took his “rightful” place as leader of the Mandalorians. Maul used the Darksaber to kill Satine Kryze and fend off his former master, Darth Sidious. Later,the Empire seized control of the planetin the wake of Order 66.
During The Rebellion
During the early days of the rebellion, which are chronicled inStar Wars Rebels, Maul crosses paths withForce-sensitive rebel Ezra Bridger. While with Maul on Dathomir, Ezra sees the Darksaber among Maul’s possessions. He eventually uses it to fend off the spirits of the Nightsisters, who are attacking him, Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, and Mandalorian-turned-rebel Sabine Wren.
Recognizing the legendary Mandalorian artifact,Sabine takes the Darksaberfrom Dathomir and hands it over to Kanan for safekeeping. Fenn Rau later tells Kanan:
“If Sabine can wield this saber, she can reunite one of the most powerful houses in all of Mandalore.”
Clan Wren, viewers learn, is part of House Vizsla, which gives Sabine claim to the Darksaber. Reluctantly, Sabine trains with Kanan and Ezra to learn how to wield the Darksaber, but she isn’t its owner for long. Upon returning home to Mandalore, Imperial Viceroy Gar Saxon tries to take the Darksaber; Sabine bests him and leads her family in their mission to reclaim Mandalore from the Empire. Eventually, Sabine offers the Darksaber to Bo-Katan Kyrze. An instrumental figure in Mandalore’s liberation, Bo-Katan is also the sister of the late Satine. With the Darksaber in hand, Bo-Katan becomes the leader of her people at the end ofRebels.
What Is The Darksaber In The Mandalorian?
While it’s not clear what happened to the Darksaber in the interceding years, it crops up again in the Season 1 finale ofThe Mandalorian. Emerging from the wreckage of his TIE fighter,Moff Gideonholds the Darksaber, to the shock of viewers — but how did he come to claim it?The Mandalorianalludes to the Empire’s purge of Mandalore; for Bo-Katan, leading the Mandalorians clearly didn’t go as planned, and resulted in Moff Gideon’s acquisition of the fabled blade. For traditionalists, the person who wields the Darksaber is the rightful rules of Mandalore, something Moff Gideon explains in Season 2 of the series.
Why Can’t Mando Wield The Darksaber?
InThe Mandalorian, Din Djarin attempts to give the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, its former owner, but she refuses. This exchange is given further context inThe Book of Boba Fett’s fifth episode — a.k.a.The Mandalorianbetween-season special. Mando returns, wielding the Darksaber, and eventually speaks with The Armorer, a fanatic whoascribes to the ancient traditions of the Mandalorians. One such tradition? The Darksaber must be claimed through honorable combat, as The Armorer says:
“If they’re merely given the blade without proving their warrior prowess, the Darksaber becomes a curse that dooms all of Mandalore.”
This explains Bo-Katan’s reluctance to accept the Darksaber from Din. After all, Sabinegifted the Darksaber to Bo-Katan inRebels— and then the Empire committed mass genocide of the Mandalorian people.
Mando holds onto the Darksaber, but he struggles to use it, claiming inThe Book of Boba Fettthat it’s too heavy. So, why can’t Din wield the weapon? Although he rightly claimed the Darksaber in combat, Din tried to give it away. And that didn’t sit right with the Darksaber. After all, it is a lightsaber, however unique it may be. That means it’s powered by a Kyber crystal — the core that gives lightsabers a sense of life. The Darksaber takes lightsaber sentience to the next level, requiring its wielder’s aims to align with its own.
Even Sabine Wren struggled to wield the heavy blade inRebels. The expat’s trauma surrounding her upbringing on Mandalore clouded things. But once she resolved to use the blade to liberate Mandalore, wielding it became much easier. Since the Darksaber is traditionally held by the ruler of Mandalore, the wielder must have a sense of duty to the planet. Not only does Mando immediately try to pass that responsibility off, but he has no interest in returning to Mandalore, hence why the Darksaber is so difficult for him to use. Maybe that will change inThe MandalorianSeason 3, and Din will care a bit more about Mandalore? This is the Way, after all.
The MandalorianSeason 3 premieres on Disney Plus on August 03, 2025, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday through April 19.
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