Testing Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber.

Main Villain

Liam Neeson recently joined the debate about the practicality of “Sithcalibur,” the red lightsaber with the cross guard hilt. Fans around the net have heatedly debated this controversial topic ever since the TFA teaser trailer dropped on “Black Friday.” Now hear what some sword experts think.

 

A gentleman who goes by the name “Thrand” has produced a few videos dissecting the new lightsaber with the cross guard. After the trailer first dropped he and his partner “Eldgrim” shared their analysis of the practicality of the sword:

 

 

The controversy of the sword is derived from the new “cross guard” hilt that fans seem to hate thus far for being “impractical.” This was echoed recently by Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson, when he said:

“I had a couple of worries about that lightsaber. I thought if it comes in [towards the body] and is close to you, it’s like having a jet of [burning] fluid hitting your clothes and your skin, but I’m sure they’ve thought that out.”

 

Since we live in an electronically interconnected world with information overload, debating fantasy weaponry has become fair game. In that light, Thrand has released another video along the same lines as Stephen Colbert wherein the cross guard hilt is easily explained. However, Thrand takes his analysis a bit further in his next video as he demonstrates its practicality:

 

 

 

 

Whether you love or hate Sithcalibur it’s fun to see the depth of enthusiasm fans have for discussing Star Wars and the lengths they’ll go to prove a point.

 

+ posts

70 thoughts on “Testing Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:13 pm
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    I think the idea of the side blades being exhaust ports is the most rational point of view. I’m not sure it’s worth debating the practicality of it until we know what the nature of this blade is.

    • January 11, 2015 at 7:42 pm
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      I heard the side blades fire off like blasters.

      • January 11, 2015 at 7:50 pm
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        That’s even worse.

      • January 13, 2015 at 3:21 am
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        The biggest problem is that in the real world sword effectiveness is always counterbalanced by its weight and handling,

        Ifa lightsabre has no weight to the blade, they should all be broadsword or one-and-a-half-hand or twohander sized swords.

        Thats the flaw of Star Wars light sabre fiction.

    • January 11, 2015 at 10:19 pm
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      I´m not sure it´s worth debating the practicality of it at all, since it´s a fictional sword.You know that lightsabers don´t exist in the real world, right? Just enjoy it for what it is: A nasty looking, cool lightsaber.

      • January 11, 2015 at 10:37 pm
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        Totally true! & agreed. I like it, initially I was weirded out by that & BB8… but usually unique things do weird people out… so I think that it’s an indication that they made the right move.

      • January 12, 2015 at 6:18 am
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        All I thought when I saw Kylo, is this character must be bad ass and old school to have this as a weapon.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:19 pm
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    Love the death metal at the end.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:20 pm
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    Great video. I feel better about the whole thing. With that demonstration it is difficult to argue against the cross guard lightsaber. We will have to wait and see how it plays out in the movie.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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    Game/Set/Match. It works.

    • January 14, 2015 at 2:04 am
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      I have to disagree. The demonstration above shows the cross guard catching the other sword in the corner, which, on the new lightsaber is part of the metal hilt, not the ‘energy beam’. The lighsaber would just cut straight through this part and the arm of the wielder.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:38 pm
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    Still” meh” about it.
    Really just don’t care for it at all.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:41 pm
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    Let’s not forget Kylo may have the option to just have the main blade turn on and the cross guard off in case he does have to have more defensive freedom.

  • January 11, 2015 at 7:53 pm
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    They gave it the green light on set so I imagine it must work well.

  • January 11, 2015 at 8:10 pm
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    Is it fun to see all of this time spent debating the merits a fictional weapon in a Disney film that hasn’t been released yet? Or sad?

    • January 12, 2015 at 6:15 pm
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      Nope, it’s not sad but fun to spend all this time proving it will work. If you don’t like it, find a new blog….

  • January 11, 2015 at 9:39 pm
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    missa thinkin da combat with dis laser stick ganna be with da two hands inda hilt and is goin to be slow and intense likein da fights in esb and rotj,very very nice

    • January 13, 2015 at 1:21 pm
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      Muy Muy….

  • January 11, 2015 at 9:40 pm
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    Kylo Ren is special cameo Lena Dunham. Revenge against her accuser.

  • January 11, 2015 at 9:44 pm
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    …this is what I love about Star Wars – the sheer level of geekery and enthusiasm which means the sightest thing can cause great debate;personally speaking I love “Sithcalibur” – I can imagine Kylo fighting 2-handed like a medieval knight so that the side “sabres” never go near his body.

  • January 11, 2015 at 9:58 pm
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    I’m not hardcore fan of the Star Wars universe, but I always thought of lightsabers as Force-boosted weapons. I mean, the way I see it, it don’t do that much damage by itself. I mean, the warrior wielding it, has to focus and somehow make the Force flow through him and through the blade to actually make the greater damage, like cutting through body and higher density materials. Think of this, like a Karate master breaking a pile of bricks with his bare hand, it seems unbelievable, but they truly accomplish that with a lot of training. Anyway, this is just MHO, and in the end I find arguing about movie fiction, or trying to humanize it, very boring and dumb, and pretty much pointless. You folks have fun and enjoy TFA. 🙂

    • January 12, 2015 at 12:10 am
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      But Han isn’t force sensitive and uses Luke’s in ESB. Further, Luke could ignite his father’s without knowing he was force sensitive. So I think the OT blows that theory away…though it would be cool!

      • January 12, 2015 at 12:59 am
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        Not trying to compare lightsaber with real human world weapons or anything. But, If you think of actual swords, of any sort, you can’t actually make much damage, to yourself or anybody, with those unless you apply a certain amount of force, or momentum and have the skills needed to do so. I would assume that in a “more civilized” universe, most certainly, there were “less civilized” – blood spilling – ancient weapons, like iron/steel blades. I would, therefore, assume that lightsabers are an evolution from steel blades and, whoever invented them, should at least design them to be as much practical, functional and “safe” to use, as possible, as the older blades. I can’t honestly find another way to look at this… But then again, I’m not an alien living in a galaxy, far, far away, a long time ago…

        • January 12, 2015 at 5:30 am
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          And yet we have blaster bolts which in no real way is a good replacement for bullets. They just look cool and that’s what it’s all about.

      • January 12, 2015 at 6:08 am
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        He used it to cut open a Taun Taun, not battle firing troops. I like the theory above and think it’s pretty well thought out, ESB and all.

  • January 11, 2015 at 10:00 pm
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    Is anyone interested to know that the cross guard hilt flames dissolve after a few seconds leaving a more trafitional saber to fight with..? The teaser cut the shot just on time leaving space for all this quite futile debating. Can’t hold it from you all anymore. Spread the word please.

    • January 12, 2015 at 1:51 pm
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      I had that thought when i firts saw it: “it would be cool if they are some sort of exhaust ports of some kind since it seems like it´s an ancient weapon & the side”flames” dies down after ignition & the sabre is stable 🙂 cool if this info is true & legit

    • January 12, 2015 at 3:06 pm
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      I’m gonna laugh when we find out this is true. All the speculation and hate for it. Yet they’re just heat reducing exhaust ports for the start up. And furthermore I bet the reason Ren was looking for it so badly was because it’s like super charged, unstable, yet can cut through any light saber that was made to be more functionally stable. But the Achilles heel of it, is that it can only stay activated for so long. That’s my bet.

  • January 11, 2015 at 10:06 pm
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    When I first saw the cross guard lightsaber, I assumed we’d be getting more of the original trilogy style lightsaber fighting style. Less flashy, and more practical fighting. Which, I think the flashy style was cool, but prefer the more practical style fights.

    • January 11, 2015 at 10:54 pm
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      thats what missa m try say =)

  • January 11, 2015 at 10:23 pm
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    Maybe the cross guard spins too? (Speculation)

  • January 11, 2015 at 11:05 pm
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    Yavin IV was an inside job!

  • January 11, 2015 at 11:17 pm
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    The Cross saber: A inelegant weapon for a more uncivilized age

  • January 11, 2015 at 11:33 pm
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    has dis supos to be a funny-funny? because it aint, but missa agree a litta bitty

  • January 12, 2015 at 12:43 am
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    Err…at around 2:18 the shot cuts and he has paint all over his shirt which he has clearly attempted to wipe off. Better call Mythbusters for this one instead.

  • January 12, 2015 at 1:30 am
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    I am just worried how it will be used in the movie. It looks silly.

  • January 12, 2015 at 1:30 am
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    Next episode: Is the force realistic? And could The Millennium Falcon really fly?

    • January 12, 2015 at 8:04 am
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      …. Says one of the jerks who keeps going on about Midichlorians.

      So shut up.

      • January 12, 2015 at 7:52 pm
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        Hahahaha, I think not.

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:03 am
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    How stupid is this debate? I think some of you need to move out of your parents basement and get a life. ITS JUST A MOVIE!

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:06 am
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    It looks very awkward

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:47 am
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    these guys are retarded? the blades on the side of the swort ain’t like the main blade, so the sides of the sword ain’t going to hurt, just like the steel of the side of a real sword don’t hurt but the main blade does!
    I hope you understand what i mean

    • January 14, 2015 at 12:18 am
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      You missed the point of the experiment completely. Did you even watch the video? They weren’t trying to prove whether it would hurt or kill you if you got hit by your own cross-guard, they were simply trying to show whether it would regularly hit the user while being used. In which it didn’t. And the cross guard they used was extra long and still didn’t hit the wielder.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:33 am
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    Arise Lord Helmet.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:39 am
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    Funny thing is… Luke is gonna be killed by that blade, the side hand guard is gonna be used against him, he doesn’t expect this. OHHHH SPOILER!

    • January 12, 2015 at 6:22 am
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      Not. Luke does not die in this instalment.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:41 am
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    I’m of two minds about this saber.

    One, the way the blade shoots out like demon fire, is just nasty as shit.

    Two, it’s not very practical, and in the wrong hands, might leave one either handicapped or transformed into a eunuch.

    So looks good, but seems a bit far fetched in terms of functionality. What else can you say at this point?

  • January 12, 2015 at 6:24 am
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    JJ abram ruined the essence of Star trek and will ruin star wars’s as well

    • January 12, 2015 at 7:37 am
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      His star trek was good, better then some of the older ones… minus the lens flares.

      1.Star trek the motion picture
      2.Star trek the search for spock
      3.Star trek the final frontier
      4.Star trek nemises(if spelt right)
      5.Star trek resurrection(if spelt right)

      Did I miss any?

      So by you’re judging the force awakens, should be called the force awakens lens flares.

      • January 12, 2015 at 7:40 am
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        meh I couldn’t edit my own post, should say The lens flares awakens. Or is The force awakens lens flares better?

  • January 12, 2015 at 7:31 am
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    Here we go again!

    Really why keep posting articles like this?

  • January 12, 2015 at 7:31 am
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    Well the way I see it, it’s just as dangerous as a double bladed or single bladed saber. All need a jedi welding it, else many limbs will be sundered.

  • January 12, 2015 at 11:19 am
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    Well, they had to do something- Kylo Ren has one of the hardest gigs in cinema history. I’m sure they will manage to make him not burn himself with his own lightsaber.

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:56 pm
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    Im not conviced i mean whats wrong with tradisonal sabers and the character name is also not great should have used characters from the expanded universe the origonal one not disneys poor take on it grand admiral thrawn would have made an exerlant bad guy.

    • January 12, 2015 at 5:04 pm
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      Not everyone agrees the EU was that good. I would hate for them to draw too much from it. It would be distracting and comes with too much baggage. This is supposed to be what George has in mind for the future of his world, not what EU writers came up with. Some of us think many of the EU characters and their naming were awful. What exactly is wrong with Kylo Ren as a name? Why should they be beholden to the EU when it was never cannon to Lucas?

      You don’t even know yet what the context of the saber is. I believe it is an ancient saber, which would explain why they wanted a unique design. What is wrong with a new design? Did you have a problem with Maul’s saber?

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:01 pm
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    Maybe the crossguard flames are artificial fire like in The Hunger Games. Kidding, but seriously, saying that the flames are impractical and unrealistic is not really a good argument. The user has to be taken into account. The dangerous nature of the weapon may in fact require more focus and skill to be applied to using it, which the Sith in possession would certainly have. The idea that not just anybody can use this weapon implies that this character is even that much more awesome and fearsome. Trust me when I say there will not be a gag in the film where Ren accidentally burns his leg with the lightsaber. He will be able to handle this weapon with great skill. The fact that a normal person looks at it and says, “I’m not touching that thing!”, makes it all the more perfect in my mind.

    • January 12, 2015 at 5:13 pm
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      “Trust me”

      Umm… Why?

      • January 12, 2015 at 7:49 pm
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        Just an expression…no merit. Jeez…Lol.

  • January 12, 2015 at 4:36 pm
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    At first I thought the leaked photo was fake, but when I saw it in the trailer, I had a little “I told you so!” voice in my head.
    Soon after, I suddenly clicked replay, realizing that it actually looks cool onscreen.
    I’m sold.
    Kudos to the POWER OF CONTEXT.

    • January 12, 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      Actually, I’m sure a fan somewhere has already designed/drawn a light saber like that. I’m surprised no one has come forward or any of the websites haven’t featured them. Like they did with that comment from years ago about the force awakens.

  • January 12, 2015 at 5:00 pm
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    Excellent video. I love the move where he takes out the guys hand. I still think the non-blade part of the guard would be a problem if it isn’t made of saber-proof material. Colbert’s idea that there would still be a blade under that part of the guard still makes it impractical as he would have to repair his saber every time he used the guard to block.

    To those who say it is silly to argue the practicality of a fantasy weapon… where have you been? This is classic Star Wars fan fodder. We enjoy doing this stuff.
    Also, there IS a limit to suspension of disbelief. There needs to be just enough implied or stated faux-science behind these things to let us give ourselves over to it. Good worldbuilding should SEEM coherent and consistent, even when it clearly breaks the laws of physics. They have to stick closely enough to their own “rules” for suspension of disbelief to be stable. When they go too far into the unbelievable side it causes this kind of debate. We have seen lightsaber handles cut in half, so the films themselves have already told us that this can happen within the world of the story. Now we see a saber that can seem unbelievable by the standards of what we have already been shown about sabers. If the saber is ancient, it is even more of a question of believability; if it is made of a saber resistant material, why aren’t all lightsabers made of the same material by the time of the Prequels?. I still think it is a nice design and they will likely have some kind of explanation, but until then we can debate these things as we always have.

  • January 12, 2015 at 6:14 pm
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    Just wait til you see the videos of Driver practicing/training and your apprehensions will be laid to rest.

  • January 12, 2015 at 6:25 pm
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    The original lightsaber is more suppose to be a Katana, the highest form of a sword and there was absolutely no reason to change anything about this. The question is not is the cross guard dumb or not, the question to include such a thing is “why would we do that”, if the only reason is “style”, and it doesn’t add anything else – don’t do it.

    • January 12, 2015 at 10:21 pm
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      But Lucas also told them to hold the saber as if it was a heavy broadsword.
      I don’t think the only reason for the design is style, but what makes you think style is an invalid reason for a design? There is plenty of style in the OT that didn’t HAVE to be there for the story.

      As far as reasons for the design, there is the possibility that it is an ancient weapon and they want it to be distinct and feel like a big broadsword rather than the quick, light version we are familiar with. There are also more possibilities for variation in combat as the video shows, which adds to the character as well as the fight scenes. It is clear from the design that this is either an ancient saber or a poorly made one by an amateur, both of which would add to the character’s story based on things we have heard. The fact that it looks like a broadsword evokes images of European knights with a heavier style than Samurai; this too could be a part of the character or reflect the time period that the sword is from. It adds variety in a similar way that Maul’s saber added to his fight with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. It requires new techniques that will only add to the fights as far as I am concerned.
      They just need a good explanation for the part of the guard that isn’t protected by a blade.

  • January 13, 2015 at 5:47 am
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    When I first saw Darth Maul’s double-bladed light saber in episode 1, I thought ‘wow, that thing would be ridiculously hard to use.’ But then I remembered that Maul, like all light saber users, is strong in the force. This mysterious ‘Kylo Ren’ may be as strong, or even stronger than Maul in his force abilities, which means that he would easily be able to avoid being sliced by the quillons of the cross guard.

    As for the apparent flaw with this sword’s cross guard, I think there are two points to consider:

    1- We don’t know how it is used, or what it does. We also don’t know its context in the story.

    2- More importantly, JJ Abrams chose this new saber to be part of an incredibly short teaser, which he undoubtedly knew would be dissected and studied to no end. Perhaps I have more faith in him than is deserved, since I haven’t seen the movie, but I trust that JJ would not commit such a glaring oversight.

    Of course, I realize that these light sabers are a work of fiction. In order to enjoy the movie, I still need to feel that this fictional character is using something that would be ‘real’ to him, and serve a useful purpose like most other things in Star Wars. I expect that JJ Abrams would look at it the same way, which is why I trust him with this new design.

  • January 13, 2015 at 12:31 pm
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    Liam Neeson is an anti-gun idiot, and has no business expressing opinions about weapons.

  • January 15, 2015 at 8:59 pm
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    nerds

  • January 18, 2015 at 1:31 am
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    I think it’s an ancient saber

  • January 22, 2015 at 9:13 am
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    Yeah, I hate when a FANTASY weapon that appears in a FANTASY is impractical.

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