Ever since their first appearance on the big screen over four decades ago, Star Wars lightsabers have been a weapon of fascination for sci-fi fans of all ages. This fascination unsurprisingly led to the wake of replica lightsabers and replica lightsaber duelling.
Today, replica lightsaber duelling has become a very popular activity among Star Wars fans and Jedi enthusiasts. Fans can now recreate epic battle scenes from the movies with their lightsaber replicas.
However, in order to make lightsaber duels truly immersive and realistic, one would need not just any lightsaber but a battle-ready one. Read on to learn how you can go about choosing a duel-ready lightsaber that would give you the perfect lightsaber duelling experience.
Blade Features
Blade Material and Quality – This is one of the most important considerations when choosing a duelling lightsaber. Beyond looking cool, a lightsaber blade that is constructed with a high-quality material offers its wielder a lot of strategic advantages during combat. Materials like polycarbonate and carbon fibre are the ideal choice for duelling lightsaber blades as they are strong and lightweight. They also provide an excellent balance between rigidity and flex.
Blade Length, Diameter and Thickness – In addition to the quality of the blade’s material, blade length, diameter and thickness should also be considered, as they can decide the fate of your duelling lightsaber. Most lightsaber blade lengths vary from 24-36 inches, with shorter blades offering more manoeuvrability and longer ones offering more reach. If you’re under 5 ft tall, a standard blade of about 24-32 inches would be the ideal choice for you. However, if you’re taller, then blades of about 36 inches are better.
Blade diameter also matters. Most lightsabers feature blades with a 1-inch diameter; however, there are some that are 7/8 inch or less than 3/4, but they are not recommended for duelling. As for the thickness of the blade, the thicker, the better. Blades that are about 2.5 inches thick provide more stability and durability during combat.
Blade Colour and Lights – Just as there are different lightsaber colours in Star Wars, duelling lightsabers come in different blade colours, including rare ones like the purple Mace Windu lightsaber. In addition to blade colour, the lightsaber should also have visual effects such as RGB colour-changing to make duelling more animated and fun.
Hilt Features
Hilt Material and Quality – The hilt of your duelling lightsaber is the part that holds the blade, protects the electronics and serves as the handle, so it is crucial that a strong and sturdy material is used. Most duelling lightsabers have aluminium alloy hilts which are great for handling the intensity of combat.
Hilt Design and Grip – The design and grip of the hilt are also very important, especially in terms of comfort and handling. Hilts that are raised, pointy or featuring highly decorative patterns can be difficult to handle during combat. The best choice is to go for a hilt with an ergonomic design (sleek design, recessed buttons and textured or ridged grip) as they allow more effective wielding of the lightsaber.
Hilt length is also important as it plays a role in the balance of the lightsaber. It also influences the user’s technique. If you prefer two-handed techniques, going for a hilt that is about 31 cm in length is ideal. A 28 cm hilt is enough for one-handed techniques.
Sound Effects
Sound effects are necessary for making the overall experience of lightsaber duelling more immersive, realistic and, most importantly, enjoyable. When choosing a duelling lightsaber, make sure to always go for a model that comes with movie-accurate sound effects (preferably motion activated). The saber should come with a good-quality soundboard that contains various authentic soundfonts.
Power Source
Lightsaber electronics require a power source in order to function. This can be in the form of AA batteries or rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Whichever one it is, just make sure to check that the saber has good power-saving abilities.
Other Considerations
Customisation Options – These may include the ability to switch between different soundfonts, transitioning between different colours, adjusting the brightness of the blade lights and blade effects like flashing or pulsating lights.
Saber Accessories – These include couplers, blade plugs, hilt extensions, hilt wraps, pommels, belt clips, lightsaber stands and display cases.
Conclusion
There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when choosing a lightsaber that will be perfect for duelling. The quality, material and lengths of both the saber’s blade and hilt will need to be considered. Other important features that you should look out for include; blade lights and visual effects, sound effects, power-saving abilities, and customisation options.
At the end of the day, there is no one perfect duelling lightsaber. Your individual needs and preferences are what determine the kind of duelling lightsaber you need to enjoy an epic battling experience.
