The red lightsaber was one of two original colors used in the Star Wars universe. In the beginning, there was only red and blue, with other colors coming later. Red was the color for the Sith or other dark side users of the force. Red lightsabers could only be made by pouring dark emotions into the Kyber crystal, corrupting it, and turning it red.
This article will cover the lore surrounding red lightsabers, along with who carried a red lightsaber and what is the greater meaning of the color red within the Star Wars franchise.
The Meaning of Red
Colour theory suggests that red represents strong emotions. This can include anger, power, passion, danger, and love. This intensity represents the Sith well, as it is all emotions that are forbidden from the Jedi Order. When powerful Sith embrace these stronger emotions, it is often that which tempts them towards the dark side of the force.
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Star Wars Canon
Kyber crystals are naturally attuned to the light side of the force. As such, dark side users of the force are unable to use kyber crystals in their natural state. If a dark side user of the force were to try and use a natural kyber crystal, the effect could be unbearable.
One such example was when Darth Vader attempted to use a green lightsaber he took from a Jedi Master. The kyber crystal inside the lightsaber gave Darth Vader visions so strong that they nearly drove him insane.
To use a kyber crystal, Sith use a process known as bleeding. To bleed a kyber crystal means a dark side user of the force would pour their dark emotions, such as anger and fear, into their lightsaber’s kyber crystal, therefore corrupting it.
The original kyber crystal could have started as any color, but the resulting color after a bleeding is almost always red. There are some rare examples of Sith using other colors, such as black, but in general, it’s almost always red.
The shade of red the Sith uses can have some variation. Reds can vary from crimson red, to even pink. Magenta, a close cousin of red, will be covered in a separate article.
Some of the most famous red lightsabers that have been seen in Star Wars canon have been owned by Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Darth Maul and the Inquisitors. Red lightsabers are also used by the Inquisitors.
Star Wars Legends
In Star Wars Legends, dark side users do not always use true kyber crystals in their lightsabers. Instead, synthetic kyber crystals, or synth-crystals, are sometimes used in their place. Synth-crystals are almost always red, and despite being synthetic, still can make a powerful lightsaber.
While red is most often associated with the Sith, within Legends there was one Jedi who used a red lightsaber for a short time, Adi Gallia.
List of Red Lightsaber Users
Star Wars Canon
Darth Vader
Darth Maul
Kylo Ren
Darth Sidious
Darth Tyranus
Darth Atrius
Darth Noctyss
Asajj Ventress
Aaron Malicos
The Inquisitors
Star Wars Legends
Jedi Master Adi Gallia
Darth Angral
Darth Atroxa
Darth Bandon
Darth Charts
Darth Desolous
Darth Kruhl
Darth Lachris
Darth Maladi
Darth Maleval
Darth Malora
Darth Plagueis
Darth Reave
Darth Stryfe
Darth Tenebrous
Darth Vengean
Darth Zash
Lord Calypho
Fanoste
Sharad Hett
Lord Skere
Lord Vindican
Uthar Wynn
Learn about all lightsaber colors in the Star Wars universe.