How did Darth Vader get his lightsaber?

It is a good question! After the infamous high-ground fight on Mustafa between Anakin and Obi-Wan, Anakin’s lightsaber was left behind. We know from the films however, that Darth Vader acquires a red one. To find out about this thrilling bit of Star Wars lore, we need to turn to the comics, specifically Charles Soule’s 2017 Darth Vader run, illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli and published by Marvel.

*Anakin awakens to find himself disfigured and without Padme.*

Palpatine had rescued the severely burned and injured Anakin from Mustafa, saving him from certain death. Anakin awoke from the rehabilitation process more machine than man, with rage filling his body as he realised Padme was dead. No longer a Jedi, no longer Anakin. Darth Vader, the Sith lord has arisen.

Having lost his original saber, Vader realised he had to obtain another. Palpatine explained that the Sith sabers are functionally the same as Jedi’s, but they are always red. The Kyber crystals that are used to make lightsabers are living entities and can feel pain. Sith lightsabers are made red by making them bleed.

Brighthome

Vader would need to find a Jedi, kill them, and take their weapon. He heads to Brighthome, a former outpost for the Jedi, now manned by clone stormtroopers, guarding their former masters’ artifacts.

Arriving in a fighter, Vader refused the outpost’s calls for identification, forcing them to send out fighters, who were quickly dispatched. Likewise, even without a lightsaber, Vader is able to manage a number of the outpost’s defensive force, relying just on his skill with the force. He does find a lightsaber being held there among the other relics, but after using it on the defenders, he tossed it aside. This was not the way to acquire one and it was not why he was there.

Darth Vader wields a green lightsaber against stormtroopers.

Vader accessed the Jedis’ electronic records, searching for a type of Jedi. Specifically, Vader was looking for any who took the Barash vow before Order 66 came through. The Barash vow is a form of penance that involves disengagement from anything else other than the force. These Jedi would have sensed the purge, but would not have acted on it and would not be in hiding.

Vader finds the details he was looking for. A Jedi called Kirak Infil’a. Infil’a was no ordinary Jedi, but one solely focussed on combat. He would prove a worthy opponent.

Jedi killer

Vader travelled to Infil’a’s home on Al’doleem, a river moon in the Mid-Rim, where Infil’a spent his time training with his droid Arex. Vader’s presence was quickly noted by the Jedi, who managed to bring down Vader’s ship purely by hurling objects with the force. Vader is not so easily stopped however.

The two foes meet in a canyon, with a wall rising to trap Vader. Infil’a shouted down to Vader, acknowledging his penance was over as there were no more Jedi. He would meet Vader’s challenge. First though, Vader had to meet Infil’a’s challenge.

Where they were standing, was a mountain filled with tests and traps designed to train Jedi. Vader is no Jedi though, as these challenges are brushed aside. Vader survived the canyon flooding, a perilous ascent and a flock of Raptorans before meeting Infil’a head on.

Darth Vader and Infil'a fight — *Darth Vader and Infil’a fight*

A furious battle of the force follows but despite beating the training droid, Vader was unable to overcome Infil’a. The Jedi managed to push Vader over a cliff edge after Vader’s robotic leg failed, snapping on him.

Filled with thoughts of vengeance, Infil’a travels to the city with a plan to find a ship and take on Vader’s master. His arrogance led him to assume Vader was dead and defeated. He was quickly disproven as Vader again made his presence felt, having repaired his body from scrap from the defeated droid.

Once again though, Infil’a proved himself to be the better fighter, however Vader spotted a weakness to be exploited – compassion. Breaking supports for the structures holding and directing vasts amount of water, Vader distracted Infil’a who used all his power to hold back the water from killing innocent lives. Taking the saber from Infil’a’s side, Vader lets Infil’a watch the water wash away the city before breaking his neck.

Forging the lightsaber

Vader travelled to Mustafar where, deep within the planet, there was a locus for the dark side. It is here that Vader must finish the transformation and corruption of the Kyber crystal, forcing it to bleed.

Following calls from the dark side, Vader found himself within a cave, with strange, ominous symbols covering it. He placed the Kyber crystal from Infil’a’s lightsaber on the table. From there, Vader manipulated the force, causing a surge in energy that flung him against a wall.

Reeling from this energy, Vader came to a realisation. He puts the crystal into the saber hilt.

Darth Vader turns his lightsaber onto Emperor Palpatine — *The Emperor and Darth Vader fight*

Vader travels to Coruscant, where he faces the Emperor. Vader draws his weapon to show his master. Not red though, it is green! Palpatine attacks but Vader strikes down his former master.

The reformed Vader travelled to Obi-Wan, took off his helmet in front of his Jedi master and dropped to his knees. Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber, but could not kill his friend – Anakin.

Of course, we know this not to be true. These were visions of what could be. Instead, Vader clasped the crystal and enforced his own will on it, showing it pain and suffering. Blue electricity exploded from the crystal but at the centre, it was a blood red.

Vader travelled to Coruscant, where he revealed his lightsaber to the pleased Emperor. It was red.