WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Mandalorian, "Chapter 16: The Rescue," streaming now on Disney+.
The Darksaber made its live-action debut in The Mandalorian Season 1 finale, where it was wielded by Moff Gideon. Ownership of the weapon was then passed from Gideon to Din Djarin in the Season 2 finale after Din defeated him in combat with the aid of his Beskar staff. The downside is, because of this, Din can now lay claim to the throne of Mandalore, which makes him a rival to Bo-Katan Kryze and her efforts to take her place as the leader of the Mandalorians.
Din, who has no interest in ruling Mandalore, tried to give the Darksaber to Bo-Katan shortly after defeating Gideon, but the weapon's long and complicated legacy prevented her from accepting it. Here's a breakdown of the Darksaber's history and how it's different from other lightsabers.
The History of the Darksaber
The Darksaber first appeared in the Star War: The Clone Wars Season 2 episode "The Mandalore Plot," and has since shown up in other Star Wars animated series and comic books. The weapon was originally conceived as being a vibroblade used by Pre Vizsla in The Clone Wars but was later re-imagined as a black-bladed lightsaber under George Lucas' supervision. According to Lucasfilm Animation head and The Mandalorian executive producer Dave Filoni, Lucas also helped to develop the history behind the Darksaber and envisioned it as a weapon effective against other lightsabers.
Whereas most lightsabers are made by their owners and then retired when they die, the Darksaber is an ancient weapon that was built over 1,000 years before the events of The Skywalker Saga and was wielded by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order. Because of this, the Darksaber became known as a symbol of power within the Mandalore culture and was eventually claimed by member of House Vizsla, who stole it from the Jedi Temple where it had been stored after Tarre Viszla's death. It has since changed hands many times and once belonged to Darth Maul after he killed Pre Viszla in combat.
Years later, on the animated series Star Wars Rebels, Sabine Wren recovered the Darksaber from Maul and, after defeating the Imperial Viceroy Gar Saxon in a duel, gave it to Bo-Katan, whose late sister Satine was the Duchess of Mandalore during the Clone Wars. However, after the Galactic Empire laid waste Mandalore during an event known as the Great Purge, Bo-Katan lost possession of the weapon, which then found its way to Gideon.
How The Darksaber Differs From Other Lightsabers
Compared to other lightsabers, the Darksaber has a shorter blade and emits a higher-pitched sound. It also has several features that are uniquely Mandalorian, including its slit-shaped blade emitter and handguard. Its blade is further affected by its user's feelings and becomes stronger when the person wielding it is experiencing intense emotions. Combined with its unusual ability to draw in the blade of another lightsaber during a duel, the Darksaber is a particularly powerful weapon, especially in the hands of a skilled Force user.
Unlike a regular lightsaber, however, the Darksaber is just as deadly in the hands of the Jedi or Sith as it is a warrior with limited to no knowledge of the Force. This is why non-Jedi like Sabine and Bo-Katan were able to use it effectively in combat, as well as why Gideon was nearly able to overpower Din with the Darksaber during their battle in The Mandalorian Season 2 finale. In fact, thanks to his anger and rage, the weapon was arguably as destructive in Gideon's possession as it was under Maul's control.
Furthermore, because the Darksaber is such an important status symbol in Mandalore culture, it typically must be won in combat and anyone who wields it will always be targeted by those seeking it as a means of gaining power. This makes it a far more dangerous item for anyone to hold onto that a regular lightsaber, as Din will no doubt come to realize when his story continues in The Mandalorian Season 3.
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now on Disney+. A Season 3 was recently confirmed to be in the works and is set to premiere in December 2021.