Star Wars Anakin to Darth Vader Color Change Lightsaber Toy(Discontinued by manufacturer)
If you’re anything like us, you spent the 80’s or 90’s absorbed in epic backyard lightsaber battles with your siblings. Back then, we fought off stormtroopers with the best toy lightsaber of the day (a flimsy plastic telescope) and imitated the sound effects with our voices. We dreamed of the day that we could hold a REAL lightsaber in our hands. Well, times have changed, technology has absolutely upped its game and short of searing through metal – today’s lightsabers are finally making those dreams a reality. For those of you who have waited years to hold a truly authentic lightsaber, or for the cosplayers, duellers and the tech savvy teenagers – we’ve got your back with superior technology and collectibles featured in our top 10 list. As for all the parents looking to gift a lightsaber to the newest generation of Star Wars obsessed kids, we are here for you too! We understand that your young Jedi needs to be swinging wildly with a simple, inexpensive lightsaber (#product9) which is safe for both your child and your lamps. Among our picks for The 10 Best Lightsabers (#top10) , we’ve included lots of great options for the youngest Star Wars fans. The Star Wars franchise is unique in that it spans many generations, captivating people of all ages. As such, the ever-expanding Star Wars saga also inspires different levels of interest. Some fans are decades deep into an all out, life-long obsession while others have been newly introduced to it through the most recently released films. Many have a craving for hi-tech gadgets, while the youngest are in need of a simple first lightsaber (#product10) . We’ve taken into account just how many different types of fans are out there and all the different aspects that are important to them. We looked deep into authenticity, durability, light and sound effects, weight, safety, price range and more while carefully identifying our selections. Any Star Wars fan knows about that tingling sensation you get when a character flares up his lightsaber. No toy lightsaber would be complete without some cool effects to replicate the experience of the battle sounds and glowing shaft. All of the picks on our list come complete with a variety of authentic or playful sounds and light FX. In life, it’s always important to know what things are made of. The material used to make your lightsaber can affect the safety, overall quality and durability of your toy. While every lightsaber you will find on this list is of good quality, what you look for in its construction depends on who will be using it and for what purpose. All Star Wars fans have their own favorite films and characters. They will often want a specific lightsaber belonging to a specific character or specific series, even one particular lightsaber that a character used in one specific film. Star Wars fans can go deep and really care about the true to film details, often seeking out the most authentic replication of their desired lightsaber possible. You’d be surprised how much even children can care about these factors. In choosing your lightsaber, make sure to consider how seriously its user takes the films and how much weight they will put in which character it belongs to, which series it’s from and whether or not it’s produced by the official Star Wars brand. collectability (#Collectability) also plays a factor as truly great replications (and even some of the sillier toys) have been known to increase significantly in value over time. A versatile lightsaber isn’t important to everyone but for those who want to be able to change and customize theirs, keep an eye on the extra features. Popular extra features include the ability to connect two lightsabers in order to form one double Darth Maul style saber, and a retractable blade which can be hidden in the hilt or fully extended by the flick of the wrist. The Bladebuilders range from Star Wars offers the ability to alter your lightsaber and even join it together with other Bladebuilders products. The Kylo Ren Electronic Lightsaber (#product4) and the Star Wars Bladebuilders Jedi Master Lightsaber (#product8) come with extra additions such as connectors, lightdaggers, spinners and more. For cosplayers and fans who want to customize their lightsaber at home and upgrade it to the most ultimate version, it can be important to have a removable blade and tinker-friendly design. Some lightsabers such as the KYBERS lightsaber (#product1) and the YDD lightsaber (#product3) were created with this in mind. Now, without using any mind tricks, let’s look at some Jedi and Sith weapons. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview This gorgeous reproduction of Darth Vader’s lightsaber is film authentic down to the last detail. A premium lightsaber with finesse, it comes with realistic Darth Vader styled light and sound effects. It’s an official Star Wars saber and a part of their highly touted Black Series Force FX range. We recommend it to collectors, detail-oriented Sith Lords and fans with cash to splash. As its design is far more geared towards being a collector’s item than engaging in lightsaber battles, it might not be the right fit for rowdy kids or duellers. The Star Wars The Black Series Darth Vader Force FX Lightsaber requires 2 AA batteries but unfortunately these are not included. Light and Sound FX Film-accurate sound and light effects mimic Darth Vader’s lightsaber noises with motion sensitivity. Fans will appreciate the truly authentic FX when turning on (it lights from the hilt upwards), holding still, while whooshing and upon impact. Although this lightsaber has high-quality LED lighting and good sound, it doesn’t quite match up to the realistic FX effects of the much more affordable KYBERS lightsaber (#product1) or the YDD Lightsaber (#product3) . Durability The real metal hilt is designed with additional rubber and plastic elements and while lovely to look at, it could probably only handle a very gentle re-enactment of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker’s hand-slicing showdown in The Empire Strikes Back. Authenticity This beautifully crafted lightsaber is character specific to the original and ultimate Star Wars baddie: Darth Vader. Detailing down to a T, it’s a high-end reproduction and is made for true connoisseurs and collectors. Extra Features Collectors will appreciate the complimentary display stand and users will be grateful for the instruction manual. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview If you’re looking for a high-quality FX lightsaber which can handle the blows from the endless Clone War attacks in your house, this YDD Heavy Dueling LED Light Saber is a fantastic option. It’s not quite as tough or realistic as the KYBERS RBG FX Dueling Lightsaber (#product1) but as a more affordable competitor, the YDD certainly gives it a run for its money. This lightsaber is perfect for heavy dueling and comes with a wide variety of authentic and playful light and sound modes. We recommend cosplayers, duellers, adults and older kids with lots of energy. Its high tech nature might be a bit wasted on the youngest Star Wars fans, but at least they would have a hard time destroying it. Light and Sound FX With a super high powered LED light with reflective foil this baby shines BRIGHT. It’s motion-sensitive with the light and sound reacting realistically to your movement (waving, hitting, holding still). However, unlike the KYBERS lightsaber (#product1) , the YDD doesn’t offer different light settings or the ability to change colors. Despite this, this lightsaber can be purchased in 7 different sets of colors. Sound-wise you’ve got 3 film-authentic sound fonts to choose from including classic Jedi or Sith lightsaber noises. You can also make use of blaster effects and a mute option. Durability Designed for high-impact durability, this toy lightsaber has a super strong polycarbonate blade and smooth aluminum hilt to allow for heavy dueling. The special light-reflective foil in the blade can get crinkled with impact but is easily rearranged by opening up the blade. Authenticity Allows for the authentic feel of truly dueling with a lightsaber and pulls off the general look. Decent lightsaber sound effects too, but it’s not character or film specific in any way. This blade is for those who want action out of their lightsaber, not a true-to-film collectible item. Extra Features This lightsaber is made with customization in mind and even comes with a special tool for removing the blade, customizing, fixing foil, tightening and loosening. It runs on 1 rechargeable Lithium ion battery (included) which is fast charging via USB charging cord (included). However, the battery can only support around 1hr of play before needing to be recharged again. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview This lightsaber is a great all-rounder for fans of Kylo Ren, Sith Lord and anti-hero of the latest Star Wars film trilogy: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Adults and children alike will appreciate the film-accurate appearance of the saber. However, for stalwart Star Wars original trilogists who feel the darkside churning in their gut at the thought of the Grandmaster Lucasless new films, this might not be the best pick. The Last Jedi Bladebuilders Kylo Ren Electronic Lightsaber might not be the most hi-tech lightsaber on our list, but it’s a high-quality, classic telescoping lightsaber for those on a budget. An important factor to note is that this saber is a part of the Star Wars Bladebuilders range and can therefore be connected to and customized with other products from the same range such as the Bladebuilders Jedi Master Lightsaber (#product8) . Light and Sound FX As a toy version of Kylo Ren’s rather unique lightsaber, it does a good job of replicating the lights and sounds of the film original with a much grittier, sith-ier sound than the classic saber. It has pretty authentic motion sensitivity with its light and sound effects (swing, still and upon impact). Durability As we mentioned, it’s got a classic telescope lens saber. These will never be indestructible. However, the detailed hard plastic of both hilt and saber is still quite durable and definitely stable enough for kids and adults to engage in everyday play battles with. Authenticity The Last Jedi Bladebuilders Kylo Ren Electronic Lightsaber is from the official Star Wars brand, which certainly gives it authenticity points. It also has a character-specific and film-accurate appearance, which goes a long way. This Kylo Ren specific blade actually has an awesome flame design (and a realistic Kylo Ren hilt to match). It’s not as collectible or authentic as the Black Series Darth Vader Force FX Lightsaber (#product2) , but it doesn’t come with the same price tag either. Extra Features As a part of the mix-and-match, customizable Bladebuilders line (join together with other Bladebuilders products like the Forces of Destiny Lightsaber (#product9) and the Bladebuilders Lightsaber (#product8) ), this lightsaber comes with a lightdagger, detachable blades, a connector, and instructions. 2 AA batteries are also included. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview As you can probably tell by the name, this is not just any old lightsaber. This is a truly unique black lightning weapon from the Star Wars universe and, as such, a truly unique toy to own. The Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber is produced by the official Star Wars brand and has been featured in the wildly popular new series ‘The Mandalorian’ along with other relatively recent releases. It will appeal to both newer audiences and older fans who enjoy the mature yet zany new direction of the tv series. It runs on 3 AAA batteries (included). Light and Sound FX This darksaber produces true-to-film authentic electronic sound and light FX. When you swing it, the darksaber toy will produce cool battle effects and by holding down the button it will make some pretty cool clashing lightning FX. Durability This is another saber made from the classic hard plastic typical for this kind of toy. These darksabers are more for swinging around and pretending with than for banging against anything. A little banging won’t hurt but too much might ruin its rather beautiful appearance. Although it’s your standard hard plastic sword, this saber was bizarrely named the ‘most dangerous toy of 2020’. This might speak well for its extra durability, but we’d say the title’s more down to the over-excitement of Mandalorian-obsessed children wielding their new darksaber than anything else. Authenticity Another product direct from the official Star Wars brand, this particular weapon is unique in that there was only ever one darksaber forged in the Star Wars universe and it was that very same saber which passed through many hands across the eras. This makes it very character-specific (although to several characters) and particular to the Darth Maul comics, more modern Star Wars releases such as the animated ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ series and, of course, ‘The Mandalorian’ series. It’s about as authentic as a plastic toy version can get. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview Get two-for-the-price-of-one with this dual set of solid all-rounder lightsabers. Split the cost with a friend, share as a present between two of your kids or keep them both for yourself. It’s up to you. Either way, you’ll be getting two budget-friendly lightsabers that offer many of the hi-tech effects heralded by higher-end FX products. This double lightsaber set is a great-value option for families and couples, bringing laughter and fun into the house with play battles. Light and Sound FX These lightsabers are motion-sensitive with sound and produce semi-authentic lightsaber sounds on impact and when swung. The blades are translucent and ribbed with LED lights. It doesn’t really light have effects aside from flashing mode and you can’t alter the color. The FX are simply not as realistic or versatile as the KYBERS RBG FX Dueling Lightsaber (#product1) or the YDD Heavy Dueling LED Lightsaber (#product3) . However, if you aren’t super into advanced tech then you will probably be very satisfied to play around with this double set of simple FX lightsabers at a budget price point. Durability High-quality plastic is suitable for kid and adult play battles that aren’t too intense, but not for hardcore dueling. Authenticity The simple handle and FX sound effects are Star Warsy enough to satisfy kids, teenagers and most adult fans who aren’t super fussy. However, it’s probably not the blade to impress cosplayers or connoisseurs. Extra Features Double blade dual connector 6 AAA Batteries included. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview This is a really fun lightsaber for younger kids or particularly young-at-heart Star Wars fans that lets you record your own effects. The Star Wars Scream Saber Lightsaber is a great option for children who are too young to care about authenticity or take the films as seriously as many of the older fans do. It’s a silly Star Wars lightsaber toy that parents will have a great time enjoying with their kids – until the 1000th time, anyway (it’s so good that your kids might get a little obsessed). It comes with a wide variety of authentic and playful FX settings that will keep your young Jedis occupied for hours on end. However, it’s not really designed for adults or teenagers looking for hi-tech FX gadgets or heavy-duty, realistic lightsaber experiences. Light and Sound FX The Star Wars Scream Saber Lightsaber offers 3 fantastic audio options including a range of general Star Wars sounds (Wookiee, Ewok TIE Fighter, Porg, R2-D2), classic lightsaber noises and, the cherry on top, a setting for recording your own sounds. This record-your-own-sounds mode is as limitless as your imagination and will probably be the source of many giggles around the house (pray your kids don’t know any swear words). Light FX are not as grand with only a basic light up mechanism and no color changes or effects. But your kids probably won’t notice that while they are busy trying to record their farts. Durability In terms of make, it’s your average plastic kid’s toy. A classic light plastic telescoping blade with a hard plastic handle like we’ve been playing with for decades. Generally durable but far from indestructible – perfect for kids to mess around with. Let’s just say that your little Padawans are more likely to break this lightsaber than their brother’s arm, which is always a good thing. Authenticity This lightsaber is from the official Star Wars brand which, funnily enough, kids often care about. It’s a good all-rounder but not for kids who are particularly obsessed with one character and want that specific lightsaber. Adult Star Wars fans will be happy with this as a fun gag gift, but it’s definitely not going to satisfy cosplayers, duellers or collectors in want of serious sabers. Extra Features Blade is retractable to hilt and can be extended with the push of a button. Runs on 2 AA batteries (included). Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview The strengths of this otherwise classic, telescopic toy lightsaber lie in its ability to be modified and built upon with a variety of different parts (such as lightdaggers and elbow connectors) and with other lightsabers (such as the Kylo Ren Lightsaber (#product4) or Forces of Destiny (#product9) ) in the Bladebuilders range. The Star Wars Bladebuilders Jedi Master Lightsaber is, in fact, a full set of different lightsaber parts and connectors which allow the user to create a whole variety of different lightsaber shapes and sounds. It’s a great option for kids and young teens and, of course, some adult fans will love it too. Light and Sound FX This lightsaber offers simple light and sound effects based on a classic lightsaber. Authenticity Being from the official Star Wars brand, it is of course an official Star Wars lightsaber with an overall authentic look. However, it is, in essence, a very general toy with no particular association to any specific character or film. It’s for kids to play with but might, however, still be of some value to those who like to collect full sets of different merchandise. Extra Features This very customizable set comes with a range of accessories: 2 lightdaggers, 2 elbow connectors, cross connectors, dual connectors and an expansion hilt. Although that’s already plenty, we recommend combining it with other Bladebuilders products in the future for extra fun. This set also comes with instructions and 6 AAA batteries. Editor’s Rating: At a Glance: Overview Even with all the exciting FX effects and extra features on offer in this list of excellent lightsaber toys, we can’t help but feel a little nostalgic towards this truly classic, straightforward lightsaber with its plastic telescopic lens. When it comes down to it, what more do you really need than to hold this simple lightsaber in your hand and let your imagination go wild? If you need help with your imagination, this lightsaber also happens to be a part of the Star Wars Bladebuilders range and is compatible with other Bladebuilder products (#product8) . This lightsaber is perfect for kids and adults alike who don’t really care about all the technological business. They just want to swing something better than a broom around and pretend they are a Jedi. It’s also the ideal my-first-lightsaber for the youngest Star Wars fans who just need a safe and easy to use toy that they can’t really knock themselves out with. Light and Sound FX This lightsaber offers basic FX such as a light up blade and clashing lightsaber sound effects. It also has one very unique feature: it plays the Star Wars theme song. How can you not love that?! Durability Like most of the Star Wars kid’s sabers, this Forces of Destiny lightsaber features a classic light plastic telescoping blade with a hard plastic handle. Your average kid’s toy: safe and relatively sturdy.