Star Wars introduces the first live-action lightsaber whip 39 years after its Legends debut

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for episode 6 of The Acolyte.

A classic lightsaber type has its live-action war of stars Debut in The Acolyte39 years after its introduction. Lightsabers are one of the most famous elements of war of stars Franchise, inspired by various forms of “magical swords” in folk tales and more recent science fiction and fantasy properties, from literature to film series. Not long after the introduction of the lightsaber, however, war of stars The franchise began introducing lightsaber variants, with heroes and villains alike wielding unique and deadly new forms of weaponry. These variants include the double-bladed lightsaber and the parry lightsaber.

One of the earliest lightsaber variants was introduced in classic Marvel war of stars Comic seriesone of the first non-film productions of the franchise. While the first six issues simply adapted A new hopeThe comics began in the fall of 1977 with original stories that reflected the characterizations of the war of stars Heroes and villains flawlessly and offers viewers new stories in the Star Wars galaxy before the release of The Empire Strikes BackThe comics also expanded the war of stars Mythos at a time when they – along with other Expanded Universe materials – were official canon.

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The origin of the light whip explained in legends

Marvel’s classics war of stars Comics introduced a wealth of planets, species, concepts and characters into the war of stars Mythos, with much of his lore influencing later works of the Legends era and – in some cases – finding its way into live-action properties. Certainly one of the most powerful and cunning Sith to Return of the Jedi was the Dark Lady of the Sith, Lumiya, who debuted in Marvel’s comics. Originally known as Shira Brie, Lumiya was a Force-sensitive Imperial spy who trained Darth Vader (with the approval of Emperor Palpatine) in the ways of the Sith. Lumiya’s signature weapon was a whip of light.

Lumiya’s light whip debuted in 1985 war of stars Issue 95 (by Mary Jo Duffy and Cynthia Martin) and was used to devastating effect against Luke Skywalker in the following issue. Although the story took place less than a year after Luke Skywalker’s victory over Darth Vader, Lumiya defeated him in their duel on Kinooine, prompting Luke to build a shoto (short-bladed lightsaber) to counter it. Lumiya would use her light whip against Luke – now a Jedi Grand Master – in the Legacy of Power novels. Although Lumiya was the original and most famous Light Whip user, other Light Whip wielders appeared throughout the Legends series.

The Sith Lord Githany, who mistakenly considered herself a potential Sith apprentice of Darth Bane, carried a lightsaber in addition to a regular lightsaber, although she was not as skilled with the weapon as Lumiya. Although lightsabers and lightsaber variants were rarely found among Force-sensitives who were not Jedi or Sith, A Nightsister, Silri, used a whip of light as her signature weaponAs shown in the 2004 novel The Cestus IllusionIn Steven Barnes’ The 40 Fingers, Obi-Wan Kenobi constructed a light whip for Kit Fisto when he disguised himself as a member of Count Dooku’s Sith acolytes during the Clone Wars.

How light whips work in Star Wars

The mechanics of a light whip are introduced in the 96th issue of Marvel’s war of stars Comics. Lumiya explains to the Nagai Den Siva that a light whip works on the same principle as a normal lightsaberwith the weapon powered by Force-infused crystals. While standard lightsabers function with just a single crystal (though some use more than one), light whips require multiple gems and the hilt lacks the necessary components to keep the energy blade rigid. The result is a much longer energy blade that is flexible and can be used like a traditional whip.

Light whips are probably superior to lightsabers as offensive weaponsas their flexible blades make them extremely difficult to predict and counter. However, lightwhips are inferior to lightsabers as defensive weapons and are extremely dangerous to their users if they wield them at close range or lack the proper skills. Although both Jedi and Sith use lightwhips, given that these weapons are more geared towards offensive techniques, it is not surprising that they are more commonly found in the hands of Sith than Jedi.

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Vernesta Rwoh introduced Canon to the Lightwhip

Although war of stars Legends became a largely discontinued alternate continuity in April 2014, but continues to inspire the lore of the modern war of stars Canon. Lightwhips were introduced into the newer continuity through a mention in Endless vigilanceA war of stars Roleplaying sourcebook. The weapon first appeared in full in the 2021 novel The High Republic: A Test of Courageby Justina Ireland. The novel features a younger Vernestra Rwoh as a Jedi Knight, modifying her lightsaber to be used as a standard weapon or as a light whip.

The book reveals that Light whips were used by ancient Jedi in their various wars with the Sithwith the exotic weapons being used to counter Sith Lords who used Forbidden Forms in combat. The book also reveals that the Nightsisters of Dathomir (which were significantly reworked for modern canon) sometimes used whips of light. Vernestra Rwoh made her live-action debut in The Acolytewith Episode 6 – “Teach / Corrupt” – includes the live-action debut of the Lightwhip, with Rwoh using her weapon against an attacking Umbramoth.

The Acolyte

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic era, when both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. In this science fiction thriller, a former Padawan reunites with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes – all of which lead to darkness rising from the depths and bringing about the end of the High Republic.

Pour

Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Joonas Suotamo, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Leah Brady, Manny Jacinto, Rebecca Henderson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jodie Turner-Smith, Dean-Charles Chapman, Lauren Brady, Anthony J. Abraham, Thara Shöön, Danielle Xin Yao Waterman, Sienna Khiroya, Jeramiah Evans, Dan Milne, Thomas Coombes, Archie Singh Swali, Nick Court, Ed Kear, Jumayn Hunter, Scroobius Pip, Abigail Thorn, Margarita Levieva, Amy Tsang, Saskia Allen, Deborah Rosan, Tabitha Alege, Paul Bullion, Indra Ové, Derek Arnold, Lewis Young

Characters)

Mae, Master Sol, Kelnacca, Yord Fandar, Jecki Lon, Little Mae, Qimir, Master Vernestra Rwoh, Master Indara, Mother Aniseya, Master Torbin, Padawan Torbin, Little Osha, Fillik, Tasi Lowa, Youngling, Retained Convict, Convict, Olega Bengel, Olega Master, Olega Padawan, Scavenger, Ensign Eurus, Mother Koril, Ensign Rane, Scout Sarria, Ensign Shima, Elder Jaalyn, Master Lakshay, Master Holden, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, Jedi Knight

Seasons

1

Streaming service(s)

Disney+

Authors

Leslye Headland, Charmaine De Grate, Kor Adana

Directors

Leslie Headland, Alex Garcia Lopez

Showrunner

Leslye Headland

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