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Obi-Wan Kenobi's third lightsaber was the weapon created and wielded by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars and the Great Jedi Purge as well as the first and final duels against Darth Vader.
Specifications[]
The inner workings of the lightsaber
In contrast to the simple weapon design based on his former master's weapon that he had originally constructed, Kenobi's new weapon had a much more skeletal build. The emitter was separated from the body of the weapon by a bronze and brass cut-back, thin "choke" portion which also held the reserve power cell. Directly below this slim bar was the black ridged handgrip, which occupied the central third of the hilt. The activator was throttle-style, the same sort featured on Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber design. The covertec wheel was black held onto a rigged black extension. Finally sealing the hilt was a chrome emitter. The lone design feature common between Kenobi's new and old weapons were a set of evenly spaced protrusions around the circumference of the pommel.[1]
During Ben Kenobi's exile, he wrote down instructions on how to create a lightsaber after his own in a journal. This journal was then used many years later by Luke Skywalker in order to construct a new lightsaber. Due to the fact that possessing a lightsaber was deemed illegal by the Galactic Empire after Order 66, and obtaining one was near impossible, Luke built his lightsaber by finding the parts required for it throughout Tatooine.
History[]
Clone Wars[]
Obi-Wan Kenobi constructed this lightsaber during the Clone Wars, following his promotion to Jedi Master.[2] He wielded it for the rest of his life.[3]
One of the weapon's earliest uses was during the Battle of Christophsis. Kenobi wielded it during an attempted ambush on the droid forces, brandishing it when droids began storming his compromised position. Deflecting the initial volley fired at him, Kenobi retaliated with a Force push, downing one of the droids. As the droids advanced, Kenobi called for mission abort. Skywalker and his men rendezvoused with Kenobi and fought their way to the complexes roof. Ambushed by enemy forces, they charged the droid ranks, hacking apart every droid in range. As the evac arrived, they retreated.[4]
Learning of a security breach within their own ranks, the two Jedi resolved to infiltrate the Separatist headquarters to find answers. Allowed to enter without struggle, but with their communications jammed, they were met by Asajj Ventress. Drawing their lightsabers, they engaged. Skywalker attacked first, with Kenobi just behind. Ventress held them both off, even attacking telekinetically, hurling some furniture at Kenobi, though he quickly cut it down with his blade. The Jedi began gaining ground on Ventress, forcing her to retreat to a library within the base. After a brief telekinetic struggle, they demanded her surrender, advancing on her. However, she reignited her twin lightsabers into the floor, causing it to collapse under the Jedi. Gloating over the two Jedi, she only prompted them to pursue. Retreating to an external ledge, she revealed the droid reinforcements landing outside. Chasing her onto the massive tri droid she was perched on, Kenobi and Skywalker cut the droids legs, causing it to fall. While Skywalker and Ventress reengaged, Kenobi began looking for an escape route. He and Skywalker leapt onto two passing STAPs and fled the scene.[4]
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber during the Battle of Christophsis.
Upon returning to their base, they found that their entire air force had been destroyed by the Separatist agent, the bitter Clone Sergeant Slick. Kenobi attempted to rectify the situation by sending their shuttle back to the fleet for supplies, but this backfired because the Separatist attack came while it was away, leaving their already shrunken force even more shorthanded. While Skywalker led a company of Jet Troopers to attack the droid forces from above, Kenobi led the charge into their ranks, cutting down droids left and right while deflecting volleys of blaster fire. Fortunately, the Separatist forces were routed and forced into retreat by the Clone heavy cannons, the one thing Slick didn't destroy. At that moment, the shuttle returned. However, instead of bringing supplies and reinforcements, it brought the Jedi Initiate, Ahsoka Tano, who had just been assigned as Skywalker's Padawan. To make things worse, the Separatist forces set up a massive deflector shield to protect their forces, slowly increasing the diameter as their troops advanced. While Skywalker and Tano went behind enemy lines to take out the shield, Kenobi led the clones against the droids, taking up defensive positions and waiting for the shield to overtake them. Once it did, Kenobi ordered the attack.[5]
Igniting his lightsaber, Kenobi leapt into the enemy ranks, impaling a super battle droid from above. Hacking apart droids left and right, Kenobi allowed himself to become separated from the clones, covering their retreat. He rejoined the clones just in time to save a trooper from a super battle droid; cutting off the droid's arms before Force blasting it into another, destroying both. Ordering the clones to retreat while he covered their backs, Kenobi impaled one super, and decapitated two other droids. As the droids advanced, Kenobi deactivated his lightsaber, feigning surrender. While Kenobi entered into "negotiations" with the Separatist General Whorm Loathsom, his weapon was taken from him. Fortunately, Kenobi had stalled Loathsom for long enough, and the shield was taken out by Skywalker and Tano.[5]
Usage during the Battle of Teth[]
Obi-Wan Kenobi using his lightsaber against Asajj Ventress' dual lightsabers
When the Republic received word that Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta, had been kidnapped, they were quick to take advantage of the situation. Looking to gain the Hutt's favor and use Hutt space as a shortcut, Kenobi was sent to Tatooine to negotiate with Jabba while Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano led an assault of Teth to extract Rotta. While negotiations were successful, the attack was not, and Kenobi arrived on Teth in a nick of time. To cover Skywalker's retreat, Kenobi aggressively entered the monastery courtyard, coming to the aid of Skywalker's surviving force. Deflecting the initial volley fired at him, taking down a battle droid while at it, Kenobi cut another super battle droid in half. Cutting apart every droid within range, Kenobi joined up with Skywalker's force before entering the monastery.[5]
Confronted by Asajj Ventress within, Kenobi had a brief banter with her before she fled deeper into the complex. Destroying the supers covering her back, he began searching for her within a large, pillared hall. Ventress attacked from above, leaping from an overhead platform. Kenobi managed to parry her dual-overhands, prompting her to leap back and pull off her skirt, hurling it at Kenobi to block his vision. Kenobi casually cut it in two and blocked Ventress' second set of dual-overhands. Shoving her back, Kenobi quietly advanced, blocking her follow-up attack and engaging in a brief flurry of swordplay. Ventress managed to catch Kenobi's blade between her own twin blades, hooking it out of his hands. Kenobi dodged her subsequent slashes and reclaimed his lightsaber. Kenobi offered to continue, and Ventress took him up.[5]
Fending off her attacks, and slowing her down with his own swift counters, Kenobi slowly retreated towards the center of the chamber. Ventress managed to catch Kenobi off-guard by pulling him into a bladelock and kicking him back against a pillar. Kenobi dodged most of her slashes, blocking only an overhand before blasting her back with a Force push. Ventress recovered quickly, and charged again. Kenobi adjusted his lightsaber's position to an Ataru opening stance before fending her off. Countering with a swift jab, Kenobi prompted Ventress to twirl her blades about as she dropped to her knees, forcing Kenobi to leap away. Ventress attacked again, Kenobi fending off her attacks before again retreating. Ventress charged, and Kenobi overleapt her attacks, bounding between pillars and leaping to the overhead platform. Ventress pursued.[5]
Their fight briefly resumed on the platform, with Ventress joining her twin lightsabers to form a saberstaff. Kenobi leapt out the window, retreating to an external rampart. Out on the rampart, they both suddenly sensed Skywalker's absence, he having escaped into hyperspace with Tano and Rotta. Enraged at her failure, Ventress attacked. Kenobi gave ground, holding off Ventress' whirling, double-ended weapon. Cutting Ventress' saberstaff in two with a swift overhand, Kenobi fended off her counter, jamming her twin blades into the rampart ledge. Taunting her, Kenobi then forced both of her blades vertical before hooking one out of her grip and off the rampart, at this point Ventress called for a Vulture droid to provide an escape. Kenobi easily held off her following attack, shoving her back. Raising his own blade to guard, he called for her surrender. Ventress instead leapt off the rampart, landing on the Vulture droid she had signalled earlier. Kenobi rejoined the clones outside, deflecting blaster volleys as he took cover. Kenobi quickly led the clones to victory, the droids easily beaten without Ventress' command. Rotta was successfully returned to Jabba, and the Republic gained his favor.[5]
Duel in the Malevolence[]
When General Grievous turned his new superweapon, the ion cannon mounted on his heavy cruiser, Malevolence, on the Clone medical base at the Kaliidi Shoals, Skywalker and Kenobi were forced to leap into action. After Skywalker led a daring bomber run of the Malevolence, disabling the ion cannon, Grievous was forced to retreat.[6] However, in a bid to save the cruiser, Dooku revealed that Senator Padmé Amidala had been sent to the sector to negotiate with the Banking Clan, on a tip from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Grievous captured her ship, and while she managed to escape the droids onboard, her presence forced the Republic battle group to break off its attack.[7] Quietly approaching the Malevolence aboard Skywalker's personal vessel, the Twilight, the two boarded the heavy cruiser. Initial resistance was light, consisting of only two battle droids. Kenobi and Skywalker quickly cut them down. Making contact with Amidala, they went to rendezvous with her in the Malevolence's internal maglev chain. When Amidala arrived in the massive chamber, under fire from several battle droids, the two Jedi charged to her rescue. As they leapt from train to train, they got separated, Skywalker going after Amidala, while Kenobi went after her droid, C-3PO. However, Kenobi's efforts were foiled by the constantly moving trains. After a quick communication, Kenobi resolved to go after the Malevolence hyperdrive. When Kenobi arrived in engineering, however, he was ambushed by a massive group of battle droids led by Grievous himself.[7]
Obi-Wan Kenobi engaging General Grievous for the first time.
Dodging the droids initial blaster volley, Kenobi drew his lightsaber... and began Force pushing droidekas into the battle droid groups behind them, destroying most of the droids quickly. When he pushed the third and last at Grievous, the General caught the droid and tossed it aside. Kenobi was quick to flee, only using his lightsaber to deflect some of the bolts shot after him. Retreating back to the maglev hall, Kenobi was pursued along one of the trains by Grievous, who had drawn two of his own lightsabers. Using an overhead crane to swing around, Kenobi drop-kicked Grievous in the chest before reigniting his lightsaber. Grievous was quick to recover, hacking at Kenobi with dual-overhands. Kenobi initially bladelocked before shoving Grievous back and retreating towards the trains leading car. Grievous' follow up attack knocked Kenobi off his feet, with Obi-Wan landing on the car's forward edge. As Grievous advanced and attacked, Kenobi simply rolled off the car, landing on one of the lower level trains.[7]
Kenobi made his way back to the Twilight, pursued the whole way by a group of droideka. Deflecting their volleys, Kenobi made it into the airlock alongside Skywalker, Amidala, and their droids. As they fled back to the Republic fleet, pursued by a flight of Vulture droids led by Grievous, Anakin unveiled his little "surprise". While Kenobi had played cat-and-mouse with Grievous, he and Amidala had gone to the bridge and reprogrammed the Malevolence navicomputer. As the cruiser attempted to escape through hyperspace, it instead turned towards a nearby moon and smashed into the surface at lightspeed.[7]
Usage on Zigoola[]
While Skywalker and Tano traveled to Bothawui, Kenobi was convinced by Bail Organa to accompany him to meet a contact in his personal intelligence network, who had apparently uncovered information about the Sith. This information pertained to a remote and unknown world known as Zigoola, a place that Organa's contact believed to be of great importance. Arriving at a secret space station out in Wild Space to meet her, they found the station had been attacked by an unknown assailant. Kenobi led the way, lightsaber ignited. Entering a command center on the station, they encountered three droideka reinforced by three human shooters gunning for Organa's contact. Kenobi deliberately made himself a target, drawing the fire of the three humans and two of the droids. As one of the droideka's shields began to fail, Kenobi focused his blast-deflections on it. Organa finished it off, and Kenobi leapt away from it as it exploded.[8]
However, at that moment, two more men and another droid blasted their way in. While Organa took cover, Kenobi leapt about the cramped control center, lightsaber blazing. By the time he was done, all but one of the men were down. Kenobi demanded that he surrender, but just as the man did so, one of the droids jerked up and killed him before self-destructing. Organa's contact, a woman named Alinta, was left severely wounded and dying. She managed to provide the location of Zigoola on a data crystal and asked that they destroy the station before expiring. Doing so, they journeyed to Zigoola, despite Kenobi's objections that they stop and consider their actions. As they neared the world, the profound Dark Side aura brought about by all the Sith artifacts on the planet overwhelmed Kenobi, compelling him to crash the ship. At the last moment, Kenobi broke free of the control and instead crash-landed.[8]
As they traveled across the wastes towards the Sith temple on the planet in an effort to find a way off the world, the Sith spirits tortured Kenobi constantly. As they picked their way through a dying forest, the spirits conjured a vivid illusion, convincing him that he was fighting Asajj Ventress. Kenobi carved his way through the forest, attacking and defending against a non-existent opponent. Caught up in the fury of the vision, Kenobi even turned on Bail Organa. He attacked the senator, but managed to stop short of actually killing him. Dropping his lightsaber, Kenobi realized what had happened. Not wanting to take such a risk again, Kenobi left his lightsaber with Organa for safe keeping as they continued on. When they reached the temple, they found a Sith crystal that boosted telepathy, though it also effected Kenobi very strongly. Kenobi became reliant on physical pain to clear his mind, for it somehow silenced the Sith voices whispering in his head. He forced Organa to gently scorch Kenobi with his own lightsaber while the Jedi attempted to use the crystal. Kenobi got through, contacting Yoda, who sent rescue. Organa destroyed the crystal, it's usefulness outlived, before it shattered Kenobi's mind.[8]
Usage during the pursuit of Dooku[]
In an attempt to capture Dooku, Anakin Skywalker infiltrated the Count's personal frigate and allowed himself to be captured. Kenobi quietly boarded the ship in a spacesuit to spring Skywalker from the brig. Going cell to cell, Kenobi entered an empty one. Ambushed by an unknown assailant, he turned and drew his weapon... on Skywalker himself. Returning Skywalker's lightsaber, which had been left with him for safe keeping, the two began searching the frigate for Dooku. Barging into the Count's meditation chamber, weapons drawn, they prepared to engage Dooku, all the while with their own warship attacking the frigate. Rather than fight, Dooku instead fled through a secret escape chute in the chamber, with Skywalker in pursuit. Kenobi arrived in the hangar just before Skywalker, just in time to see Dooku leave. Drawing his lightsaber, Kenobi destroyed the two droids guarding a shuttle, decapitating one and downing the other with an accurate blast-deflection. Skywalker boarded and the two chased after the Count's solar sailer.[9]
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber on Florrum.
They successfully shot down Dooku's sloop, but were in turn shot down by his fighter escort. Crash-landing next to Dooku's ship, they began searching the area for him. Combing a nearby cave for the Count, they were ambushed by him. Dooku telekinetically triggered a cave-in, incapacitating Kenobi and burying Skywalker. Making off with Skywalker's lightsaber, Dooku proceeded to collapse the cave mouth, trapping the Jedi. As the two began searching for a way out, Kenobi attempted to ignite his lightsaber to serve as a light source. However, it had been damaged in the cave-in, spluttering and dying in Kenobi's hands. At that moment, they were also set upon by a gundark living in the cave. While Anakin distracted the gundark, Kenobi began disassembling his lightsaber in an attempt to ascertain the damage. Ultimately, Kenobi gave up on the attempt, and he and Skywalker began telekinetically attacking the beast, hurling boulders at it. Knocking out the gundark, the two resumed their search for an exit.[9]
In the end, they were rescued by Ahsoka Tano, who had the clones under her command blast open the entrance just in time to save them from a toxic gas leak. They returned to Coruscant, and learned that Dooku had been captured by Hondo Ohnaka's pirate gang after escaping them. Skywalker and Kenobi were sent to Florrum to confirm Dooku's capture, on the condition that they arrive unarmed. Ohnaka exploited this and captured them as well, hoping to extort more from the Republic. Ohnaka also somehow gained hold of Kenobi's lightsaber even though the Jedi Master was not supposed to bring it, suggesting that Kenobi had kept it concealed on his person or in Skywalker's ship.[9]
Forced to work with Dooku, the pair engaged in multiple escape attempts. All were foiled, and Ohnaka ultimately separated the Jedi out and began torturing them. However, the pirate bases power was cut by a Republic infiltration team. Reclaiming their weapons, Skywalker and Kenobi held Ohnaka hostage, using him as a living shield as they retreated to their ship. Meeting with the Clone Troopers, they released Ohnaka and boarded Anakin's ship, leaving the planet.[10]
In the subsequent Skirmish on Orto Plutonia, Skywalker and Kenobi were only involved in initial negotiations with the native Talz. They didn't participate in the battle itself, as the conflict was declared by the Pantoran Chairman Cho to be a matter of internal security.[11]
Blue Shadow Virus crisis[]
When the Republic found out about the secret laboratory the Separatists managed to maintain on Naboo, Skywalker and Kenobi were send to destroy it. The lab was run by the mad scientist Doctor Niro Vindi, a madman bent of recreating the destructive Blueshadow virus. The clone forces blasted their way into the lab, Kenobi entering to disable Vindi's virus bombs. Kenobi barged in on Tano engaging a trio of droideka, crushing the droids with fragments of the ceiling. They quickly split up, Kenobi going for the bombs while Tano held off the droids pursuing them. When he entered the bomb chamber with the Clone Bomb Squad, they all suddenly went active. While the Clones deactivated them, Kenobi joined Skywalker in pursuing Vindi. Barging into the hangar, Obi-Wan leapt onto the shuttle platform Vindi was perched on, but was forced to break off when Vindi began tossing vials filled with airborn virus. Kenobi caught the first three vials, while Skywalker went after Vindi.[12]
Vindi was captured, and Kenobi joined Skywalker on the platform.[12] However, one of Vindi's droids managed to set off one of the bombs, flooding the labs with the virus. Returning to Naboo's capital, Theed, they learned that the virus was made from the Reeksa root, native to Iego. Meeting with Jaybo Hood on Iego, a young boy who had reprogrammed an army of battle droids into personal servants, they learned that the plant they were searching for runs rampant through the gorges and pitfalls of the planet. They also learned that they were trapped on Iego, thanks to Droll, apparently the phantom god ruling the planet, actually a Separatist laser grid in the massive asteroid field surrounding the planet. Dropping into the gorges, they accidentally aggitated the carnivorous Reeksa vines. Kenobi ignited his weapon to fend off the plants, while Anakin dug for the vines.[13]
Retreating up the gorge wall, they quickly cut off a Reeksa maw each to fend off the beast. They managed to escape Iego, destroying the primary laser node on the moon Millius Prime. They returned to Naboo with the Reeksa root and synthisized an antidote to the Blueshadow virus, curing all those trapped in Vindi's lab and eradicating the virus itself.[13]
Usage during the Battle of Ryloth[]
When the Separatists attacked Ryloth, Kenobi was sent along with Skywalker and Jedi Master Mace Windu to retake it. Skywalker cleared the skies, and Kenobi led the initial ground assault. Attacking the city of Nabat, Kenobi led the charge. As they approached the city wall, the droids opened up. Kenobi deflected the volleys fired at him and led two clones up close. The two clones tossed EMP grenades onto the wall, with a little telekinetic assistance from Kenobi, taking down the defenses. As they advanced through the village, the droids unleashed a pack of gutker on the droids. Kenobi initially drew his lightsaber, but seeing how the gutker were tearing apart the clones, he instead used a powerful Jedi mind trick to lure them into a dead end alley, leaping out while the clones blocked it off. Shortly afterwards, the scouts Kenobi had dispatched earlier rejoined the group, with a young Twi'lek girl in tow. The girl, Numa, led the clones through the tunnels and catacombs beneath Nabat to the droid base. Kenobi, with Numa in arm, quickly cut down the droid rear guard and trapped one in an empty gutker pen. Leaving Numa with his backup, Kenobi quietly sneaked into the droid base while his main force attacked the front entrance.[14]
Obi-Wan Kenobi freeing Twi'lek prisoners with his lightsaber.
Leaping into the midst of the droid guards, Kenobi quickly cut them down, then began freeing Twi'lek prisoners. Guiding them to the tunnels he used to enter, Kenobi quickly turned to the droids. Kenobi rushed one of the droid cannons, cutting down the guards and commandeering it. With two clones reloading the machine, Kenobi began destroying the droid base before being forced to jump out when a tank destroyed the gun. Kenobi was ultimately saved from the tank when the Twi'leks he had freed rose up and attacked it, destroying the pilot, a tactical droid. With the city of Nabat secured, the Republic had its landing zone.[14] Mace Windu led the final offensive on the capital of Lessu, winning the battle.[15]
Usage on Kothlis[]
When Grievous attacked the world of Kothlis, Kenobi and Skywalker, being the only Jedi near enough, were sent to stop him. Their communications blocked by both a Separatist virus and a new jamming suite, they were forced to effectively fight deaf. While Skywalker cleared the skies, Kenobi led the ground assault, accompanied by Ahsoka Tano. While Tano fought elsewhere, Kenobi holed up in the entrance hall of the Kothlis spynet facility. Starting to tire out as he took on the last wave of attacking droids, Kenobi and his troopers were attacked soon after by a wave of remote droids; mosquitoes. The mosquitoes blasted their way through the hall skylight, the shards of glass actually managing to pierce Kenobi's armor. Kenobi was forced to ignore the pain of the glass cutting his muscles and tendons and fight. He cut up every mosquito in lightsaber range, telekinetically blasting those outside of it, but he was tiring fast.[16]
Kenobi only survived thanks to Ahsoka Tano's intervention, the Padawan storming in on a hijacked STAP, allowing the Jedi to take the fight to the enemy. The Battle of Kothlis was a victory, barely.[16]
Usage during the Hunt for Ventress[]
- "Obi-Wan, if I told you that he's incredibly well defended and that his skills with the vibrowhip rival yours with a lightsaber, would you reconsider allowing me to fight at your side?"
- ―Aayla Secura on Xist
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber against Xist.
Despite Anakin Skywalker's assurances that Asajj Ventress was dead by his hand, Kenobi remained unconvinced. He began obsessively trying to track her down. First, he went to Trigalis to speak with the Black Sun strongman and information broker running the city of New Coronet, Xist. Approaching the city by speeder bike through the local swamps, Kenobi was aggressively pursued by a local swoop gang who wanted to steal his lightsaber and sell it on the black market. Kenobi killed them all, cutting down the gang leader last when he refused to surrender. Kenobi was confronted immediately afterwards by a collection of Black Sun assassins who also wanted his lightsaber and money. Kenobi subdued them, blasting one into the bar where he was going to meet with Aayla Secura. Aayla gave him info on Xist, whom Kenobi went to "visit".[17]
Breaking into Xist's fortress, Kenobi engaged the vibrowhip-wielding killer in combat. Using the armor he wore to absorb most of Xist's vibrowhip attacks and dodging his blaster shots, Kenobi went in close. Attacking Xist with punches and kicks while parrying the vibrowhip with his lightsaber, Kenobi brought the Falleen down. Xist agreed to give Kenobi possible information about Ventress, saying that the Separatists had promised to send their best agent to kill Xist's rival, the Corellian Drama Korr. Kenobi recruited Skywalker to help him and went to interecept Korr's ship, and Dooku's agent. Boarding the ship, they were ambushed by Durge, who had already killed Korr, and wired the ship with explosives.[17]
They split up, Skywalker taking Durge, while Kenobi went after Durge's ship to get at the logs. Kenobi carved his way through Durge's battle droid escort, getting to the hangar. Cutting his way into Durge's ship, Kenobi decapitated the navigation droid and made off with its head. Meeting up with Skywalker, the two fled the ship as it exploded. They were saved from the Vulture droids left to kill any survivors by a Republic warship that just came out of hyperspace. Boarding the vessel, they went through the navdroids memory banks, and learned that Durge had dropped off another Separatist agent of Boz Pity. While the Jedi planned their next move, Skywalker engaged Kenobi in a sparring match to relieve tension.[17]
While they battled back and forth, they prodded one another regarding their individual obsessions. Their bout ended when they blasted each other with Force pushes, leaving the hangar in disarray. They were met soon after by Mace Windu, who revealed that virtually every Jedi available was on board for their upcoming mission; the invasion of Boz Pity. In a daring flanking maneuver, Skywalker pulled their warship out of hyperspace between the planet and the Separatist blockade. However, the ship got caught in Boz Pity's gravitational pull and crash landed. Despite the battle raging about him, Kenobi never actually drew his lightsaber, instead quietly infiltrating the Separatist base, and finding Ventress. Attacked by her, Kenobi was driven back out to the battlefield, with Ventress just behind. As Ventress came on, Kenobi was eventually forced to draw his lightsaber in self-defense, though he refrained from fighting back. As Dooku began to evacuate with a crippled Grievous, Ventress broke off from Kenobi, kicking him down before attempting to rejoin her master. Ultimately, Ventress was ordered gunned down by Dooku, and slashed across the back by Skywalker when she tried to attack Kenobi with a jagged piece of metal. She apparently died, though not before revealing crucial Separatist intel.[17]
Usage on Cato Neimoidia[]
- "Anakin Skywalker: Exactly what lightsaber form were you using back there, Master?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Form?
Skywalker: More the absence of it." - ―Anakin Skywalker questions Kenobi about his new lightsaber "form"
Obi-Wan Kenobi with his lightsaber.
Kenobi and Skywalker led the invasion of Cato Neimoidia, an effort to capture the Separatist Council member and Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray before he fled by to the Outer Rim. Attacking the Viceroy's personal redoubt on Cato Neimoidia, Kenobi and Skywalker led the ground forces. Fighting their way through the manax orchards along the redoubts lower ramparts, Kenobi brought down two attacking sentries with their own deflected bolts before continuing on. He was saved from another set of droids that had flanked him by Skywalker, dropping to the ground with his blade aimed down to avoid impaling Skywalker as he rushed past and destroyed the droids. Using the harvester beetles that managed the orchards to infiltrate the lower levels of the citadel, Skywalker and Kenobi dealt with the droid rearguard. Kenobi brought down one droid with a blast-deflection, while directing its second shot at the door controls, sealing off the tunnel the droids attacked from. The Jedi split up, Skywalker going after Gunray while Kenobi acted as a distraction.[18]
Traveling to a lower level via turbolift and attacking the droids on the level, Kenobi and his clones threw themselves into the combat. Mangling two super battle droids and barging into a large shipping room, fighting off droids in there as well. Attempting to seal the droids entry point; a set of shipping doors; Kenobi accidentally punctured and crushed between the doors a shipping container full of the fungus that Cato Neimoidia exported. This fungus had a "dislocating" effect on humans, the spores leaving Obi-Wan intoxicated and giddy. In this new state of mind, Kenobi achieved an entirely new level of effectiveness against the droids. Remaining in one place, he swayed and reeled, dodging all the shots fired at him, while he casually deflected those he couldn't dodge. His deflections were incredibly accurate, and Kenobi brought down over fifty droids before Skywalker arrived to "rescue" him. Kenobi collapsed into Skywalker's arms, who deactivated Kenobi's lightsaber.[18]
Usage during the Hunt for the Sith Lords[]
While Gunray escaped, he did leave something of great importance behind, which Kenobi and Skywalker found; a mechno-chair with a hyperwave transceiver built in that allowed Gunray to contact Darth Sidious. Kenobi and Skywalker were sent to Charros IV to investigate the craftsman who had created the chair, a Xi Char named t'laalak-s'lalak-t'th'ak. From there they were directed to the mining facility Escarte, where a droidmaker had provided the transceiver that was used in the chair. After the two led the fighter wings during the Battle of Belderone, they travelled to Escarte. Getting themselves purposefully apprehended by the authorities in the base to get close to the droidmaker, a Bith named Thal K'sar. Springing the Bith from the Escarte detention level, they escaped the facility and were directed to Naos III to look for the Twi'lek pilot of a vessel that one of the two transceivers K'sar had built was meant for.[18]
While meeting with the pilot; Fa'ale Leh, they were attacked by a number of bounty hunters hired by Dooku to eliminate them before they found Sidious. Kenobi cut both hands off one of the human hunters and impaled a second when he fell forwards. Taking on a vibro-ax wielding Falleen, Kenobi managed to duck under his attack and nick the Falleen's thigh. The other hunters were quickly killed off by Skywalker, who also finished off the Falleen. Fleeing the inn Leh was staying at through an escape route she had prepared, they used a set of escape swoops and fled the area. Pursued by more bounty hunters, Kenobi was forced to fly one-handed, using the other to handle his lightsaber. When one of the hunter swoops overtook him, Kenobi braked to dodge one shot and deflected the other into the enemy swoop's engine. As the pursuit continued on, Kenobi was eventually plucked from his seat by the grasping claws of Sharptooth collector, dropping his lightsaber. He was only saved by Skywalker's intervention. Leh afterwards provided information on the ship the transceiver was for; it was taken to an old building in the Coruscant Works, and accepted by Darth Maul.[18]
After sieging a shielded city on an unidentified rainy planet, Kenobi and Skywalker were sent by Palpatine and Mace Windu to the planet Nelvaan, based on intel that General Grievous had been sighted there.[2][19] However, when they arrived on the planet and encountered the natives, the subsequent conflicts were waged by Skywalker exclusively, becoming something of a spiritual journey for him. Kenobi was not involved and didn't actually use his lightsaber.[20][21][22]
Mace Windu and Shaak Ti took over the search for Sidious, while Kenobi and Skywalker were sent to Tythe in an attempt to capture Count Dooku. Landing at the abandoned LiMerge Power facility where Dooku was apparently holed up on the dead world, they were confronted in the archive hall by a holographic transmission of the Count from elsewhere in the facility. Sensing Dooku's location, they began to follow, only to be attacked by a force of fifty battle droids. While Kenobi's initial efforts were accurate and precise, he began to tire out, his strikes losing their surgical precision. However, the conflict continued to drag on, as droid reinforcements continued to pile in. While Kenobi kept his cool, Skywalker lost his temper. Unleashing a sudden Force scream, he caused the hall ceiling to collapse. While they managed to dig their way out of the rubble, they weren't able to catch Dooku. Dooku stopped by the planet Nelvaan (where the Jedi had previously been four days prior) on his escape course to Coruscant, in an attempt to throw off followers.[18]
Rematch with Dooku[]
- "Your swords, please. We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor."
"You won't get away this time, Dooku." - ―Dooku and Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber against Dooku.
When their business on Tythe was concluded, the two received a message from Mace Windu.[22] Learning that Grievous had invaded Coruscant and kidnapped Palpatine, they realized that their hunts for Dooku and Grievous had only been a diversion to keep them away from Coruscant.[18] Speeding back to the Core aboard their starfighters, they emerged into the chaotic and bloodied airspace above Coruscant. Flying through the flak and fire of the battle, they crash-landed onboard Grievous' cruiser, the Invisible Hand, where Palpatine was being held. Kenobi exited his ship first, leaping out of the cockpit into a group of battle droids as his ship skidded along the hangar deck. Igniting his lightsaber in midair, Kenobi cut down all four with two rapid slashes. Carving his way over to Skywalker, Kenobi joined him in finishing off the last droids in the hangar.[23]
They began to make their way through the ship, cutting down all the droids in their path. Driven into a turbolift by a trio of droideka, the Jedi found themselves confronted by a squad of battle droids within the lift. The Jedi cut them down in less than four seconds. As the lift began to climb, the Jedi were slowed down when the lift controls were sabotaged by the droids. While Anakin's astrometrics droid, R2-D2, hacked the controls to get them moving again, Anakin himself cut a hole in the ceiling, intending to climb the shaft himself. R2 managed to get the lift going again, and Anakin reentered, surprising Kenobi, who brandished his lightsaber. They eventually made it to the top of the Invisible Hand's conning tower, entering the General's quarters, a massive observation suite at the towers fore. Finding Palpatine bound within the General's chair at the far end of the suite, the Jedi were confronted by Dooku.[23]
As both parties advanced, Kenobi brandished his lightsaber and raised it to a guard, Skywalker following suit. Dooku ignited his own weapon, and the battle was on. Initially, Kenobi and Skywalker relied on the more basic fighting disciplines that they had applied in earlier contests with the Count, lulling the Sith Lord into a false sense of security. However, after a brief banter with the Count during a lull in the combat, Kenobi and Skywalker switched over suddenly to the advanced styles that they had practiced and mastered during the war. Dooku was forced to give ground. Unable to penetrate Kenobi's staunch defense, Dooku blasted him aside with a Force push to focus on Skywalker solely.[24] While Skywalker drove Dooku up onto the suite's entrance balcony, Kenobi charged after them, destroying Dooku's droids. Panicking, Dooku kicked Skywalker aside and seized Kenobi in a Force grip, hurling him aside before toppling a section of the balcony onto him.[23]
Rendered unconscious, Kenobi didn't witness Skywalker's defeat of Dooku, nor his heinous murder of the unarmed Count. After Kenobi regained consciousness while being hauled around on Skywalker's shoulder, the Jedi and Palpatine were captured by Grievous' droids while caught in a ray shield trap. They were taken to the bridge, and their lightsabers were given to Grievous. However, before Grievous could kill them, R2-D2 distracted the General with a sudden pyrotechnics display, allowing Kenobi to reclaim his lightsaber to cut his and Skywalker's bonds. As Skywalker reclaimed his own lightsaber, Grievous ordered his IG-100 MagnaGuards to attack them.
Obi-Wan Kenobi using his lightsaber to engage IG-101.
Kenobi focused on IG-101, slowly retreating before suddenly decapitating the droid. However, 101 continued to fight headless thanks to a secondary processor and visual sensor built into its chest. Kenobi stood toe to toe with the droid, ultimately bringing it down with a horizontal slash at it's chest, cutting it in two.[23][24]
While Kenobi and Skywalker began to aggressively dismantle most of the droid bridge crew, Grievous charged towards the fore of the bridge, taking up IG-101's fallen electrostaff. As the Jedi moved in to corner him, Grievous instead escaped by smashing one of the bridge viewports with the staff and leaping into the vacuum, which he could survive thanks to his droid body. Finishing off the last of the bridge droids, Kenobi and Skywalker were forced to crash land the dying cruiser on Coruscant, as Grievous had already remotely launched all the escape pods. They were praised as heroes for having saved Palpatine and killed Dooku, though Grievous remained at large.[23]
Last use against Grievous[]
- "Mace Windu: I am called a great swordsman because I invented a lethal style; but who is greater, the creator of a killing form-or the master of the classic form?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I'm very flattered that you would consider me a master, but really-
Windu: Not a master. The master. Be who you are, and Grievous will never defeat you." - ―Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber against General Grievous.
When Grievous' location was finally discovered, Kenobi was sent alone to lead the attack on the General's stronghold on Utapau. Quietly infiltrating Grievous' base in one of the sinkhole cities of the world to act as a one man distraction, Kenobi confronted the General. Grievous initially pulled back, tasking his MagnaGuards with killing Kenobi. Obi-Wan brandished his lightsaber, but rather than engage the MagnaGuards, he instead crushed them with a large shipping container hanging from the ceiling. Quickly cutting down the one surviving droid, Kenobi advanced on Grievous. The bio-droid responded by splitting his arms into four and drawing all four of his lightsabers and advancing on the Jedi. Kenobi slowly retreated before jabbing his blade into Grievous's whirlwind. Two of Grievous' blades caught on Kenobi's, and the General pulled back. Kenobi unleashed a swift overhand and overleapt Grievous' counter, flanking him. As their fight carried on, Kenobi relied on defensive tactics and simplistic movements to fend off Grievous' frenzy, not even attempting to fight back. Instead, he simply altered the angles of two of his parries and caught Grievous' wrists rather than his blades.[23]
Despite being deprived of his two extra lightsabers, and surprised by the sudden arrival of the Republic forces, Grievous remained unfazed. As the General advanced, ready to resume the duel, Kenobi instead used a Force push to blast Grievous against the ceiling of the massive hangar they fought in, disarming the bio-droid. Grievous decided to flee, crawling over to his wheel bike and speeding out of his base with Kenobi in close pursuit aboard his varactyl Boga. During one of Boga's bumpier landings, Kenobi dropped his lightsaber. It fell down several levels of the sinkhole onto a landing platform, where it was retrieved by the Clone Commander Cody. After Kenobi finished Grievous and rejoined his forces, Cody returned the lightsaber to him.[23]
The Great Jedi Purge[]
Usage during Order 66[]
- "Would it have been too much to ask for the order to have come through before I gave him back the bloody lightsaber..."
- ―Commander Cody
Mere moments after his lightsaber was returned by Cody, Kenobi was betrayed by the clone, who had just received Order 66. Kenobi was shot down by the heavy artillery, blasted off the sinkhole wall into the water-logged grottos below. Kenobi afterwards congratulated himself for keeping hold of his lightsaber during his semi-conscious fall.[24] Working his way through the catacombs and backways of the Utapaun city, Kenobi made his way to Grievous' secret landing platform and hijacked the General's personal fighter. Rendezvousing with Senator Bail Organa, who had just rescued Yoda from Kashyyyk, Kenobi was given transportation to Coruscant to reverse a rigged transmission from the Jedi Temple that ordered the surviving Jedi to return home.[23]
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber against Clone assassins in the Jedi Temple.
Kenobi and Yoda stormed the main entrance of the Temple, cutting down the Clones guarding it. As they made their way towards the Temple communications tower, ambushing isolated Clone squads along the way, they came upon evidence of horrifying atrocities within; Jedi mercilessly gunned downed by the Clones, children massacred by a lightsaber-wielding assailant. In the communications room, Kenobi reset the signal to tell surviving Jedi to run and hide. He then checked the Temple security recordings to find out who led the attack. He was horrified to discover that Anakin Skywalker was the killer, having turned to the Dark Side and sworn allegiance to Darth Sidious, revealed to be Palpatine. Yoda tasked Kenobi with engaging the newly minted Darth Vader while he went after Sidious.[23]
Meeting with Senator Padmé Amidala to try and get Skywalker/Vader's location from her, he instead found out about their secret marriage, and that Skywalker was the father of her unborn child. Knowing that Amidala would go to Skywalker to find out about what Obi-Wan had told her, Kenobi stowed away on her ship. Amidala journeyed to Mustafar, the secret hideout of the Separatist Council, and unknown to her, Darth Vader's newest killing ground. As Amidala spoke with Skywalker and gradually realized that Kenobi had been telling the truth, Kenobi revealed himself. Vader, enraged, attacked Amidala with a Force choke, rendering her unconscious. As the dialogue between the former master and student turned sour, Kenobi came to the conclusion that Skywalker was beyond saving. He brandished his lightsaber and awaited Vader's attack.[23]
First use against Darth Vader[]
- "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy!"
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try." - ―Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber against Darth Vader.
Darth Vader drew his weapon and leapt at Kenobi, unleashing a vicious offensive frenzy. Kenobi was forced to give ground, retreating into the Mustafar facility as Vader came on. As they entered the facilities control room, Kenobi managed to pull Vader into an armlock, striking at his back. However, Vader managed to block and wrestle out of the lock, resuming his attack. They battled their way into the conference room of the base, where their fight degenerated into an all out brawl. Kenobi managed to disarm Vader, but Vader quickly attacked, grabbing Kenobi by the throat while seizing his weapon arm in his other hand. Twisting Kenobi back and down, Vader began throttling him and forcing his lightsaber closer to Kenobi's face. Kenobi managed to kick Vader off and keep hold of the lightsaber, but Vader quickly countered with a drop-kick, knocking Kenobi down and disarming him. After a brief fight, Kenobi summoned his lightsaber and attacked, though Vader manages to block with his own retrieved weapon.[23]
As their battle tore through the facility, the energy shield protecting the base from the lava river outside was accidentally deactivated, leaving the adjacant mining complex vulnerable. Kenobi retreated along an external steam pipe from the control center into the mining complex, with Vader driving him the whole way. As the lava raining down on the facility began to bring it down, Kenobi and Vader was left clinging to one of the collection arms as it plummeted into the lava below. Despite this, Vader viciously continued his attack, pursuing Kenobi up the collection arm as it drifted down the river, slowly sinking. As the arm neared a massive lava fall, Kenobi leapt onto the broken support cables, and after a brief midair bout with Vader, swung out and leapt onto a floating lava-mining platform. Vader followed suit, leaping onto a nimble lava-collection droid as the arm toppled over the fall. Vader's droid proved more than able to outmaneuver Kenobi's platform, and the Sith Lord kept up his attack.[23][24]
Eventually, Kenobi managed to leap to the river shore, gaining the high ground on Vader. Despite Kenobi's cautions, Vader leapt in pursuit, allowing Kenobi to finish him, executing a vicious mou kei finishing move as Vader flew overhead. Kenobi amputated both of Vader's legs and his left arm. After a brief dialogue with the fallen Sith Lord, Kenobi retrieved Skywalker's lightsaber and left Vader to burn in the lava.[23] Kenobi afterwards learned that Vader had survived, forced to wear heavy life-support armor and bulky prosthesis for the rest of his life.[25]
Kenobi transported the semi-conscious Senator Amidala to the Polis Massa medical facility, rendezvousing with the defeated Yoda and Bail Organa. Amidala gave birth to Anakin Skywalker's twins, naming them Luke and Leia before dying. Yoda went into hiding on Dagobah, Leia was left in the care of Bail Organa, while Luke was given over to Anakin Skywalker's stepbrother, Owen Lars. Kenobi hid out on Tatooine, watching over Luke.[23] During the next two decades, his lightsaber saw little use.
Final usage by Kenobi[]
- "You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
- ―Obi-Wan Kenobi to Darth Vader during their rematch.
Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding his lightsaber in combat for the last time
In 0 BBY, Kenobi came upon the teenaged Luke Skywalker being attacked by Tusken Raiders. Driving off the raiders with an imitated Krayt dragon call, Kenobi rescued Luke, taking him and his two droids to his dwelling. One of the droids was R2-D2, Anakin Skywalker's old astrometric droid that had been left with Bail Organa after Padmé Amidala's death. The droid was bearing a message from Leia Organa, secretly Luke's sister. Having been captured by the Empire just after procuring the blueprints for the Death Star, she had R2 take them to Kenobi. After Owen Lars and his family were killed by the Empire, Luke joined with Obi-Wan, planning to accompany him to Alderaan. Traveling to Mos Eisley, they began searching Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina for a transport pilot to hire. While there, Luke was cornered by two criminals, forcing Kenobi to step in. Things turned sour, and Kenobi was forced to draw his lightsaber for the first time in years, cutting off one of the thug's arms.[3]
Given transport by Han Solo and his Wookiee copilot, Chewbacca, they narrowly escaped the planet. En route, Kenobi began tutoring Luke, who wielded his father's lightsaber, in basic Form I velocities, specifically blast-deflect training. When they reached Alderaan, they found that the planet had been completely obliterated by the Death Star. Dragged onto the massive battle station by the tractor beam, they were forced to infiltrate the corridors and hallways of the construct. Kenobi broke off from the group to deactivate the tractor beam, while they went to rescue Leia Organa. While Kenobi kept his lightsaber on hand, he never actually ignited it, evading most of the Imperials he encountered. Successfully deactivating the beam, Kenobi began to make his way back to the ship. However, Darth Vader was present on the station, and sensing Kenobi, moved to intercept. Kenobi was blocked from the hangar by the Sith Lord, and was forced to draw his lightsaber and engage.[3]
Darth Vader takes possession of Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber
Kenobi attacked first, Vader blocking and riposting, speeding up his timing, forcing Kenobi to retreat. As they fought, Vader reflected that Kenobi still had some skill, but was out of practice. Kenobi twirled and blocked a slash, weaving a defensive pattern with his blade. While Kenobi was still able to anticipate Vader's attacks and defend himself, he was still weakening.[26] Kenobi lunged again, but Vader was ready, bringing them into a momentary bladelock. Vader shoved hard, breaking the lock and forced Kenobi to pull back. After another exchange, Kenobi was obviously tiring, and began backing away.[26]
Vader forced Kenobi past the entrance to the hangar and began to chivvy him into the wall. Just as Vader was about to deliver a finishing strike, Kenobi unleashed a sudden flurry of attacks that forced Vader to pull back. As they rapidly circled, the stormtroopers in the hangar became aware of their battle and moved in to cover the entrance to the hangar. Kenobi, trapped between Vader and the Stormtroopers, risked a glance into the hangar, where he saw that his companions had reached the ship. Turning to Vader, he did the last thing the Sith Lord would have expected; he smiled and raised his lightsaber so the tip pointed straight up, lowering his guard. This was so totally unexpected that Vader stood for an instant in shock. However, not caring if it were a trap of some sort and believing Kenobi too slow to execute it if it were, Vader cut hard at Kenobi's neck.[26] However, just before the blade sliced through him, Kenobi transcended physical existence and became one with the Force. Kenobi's robes fell to the ground, empty, his lightsaber landing on top of them.[3]
Collected and Recovered[]
Anakin Solo attacking Orloc with Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber.
The lightsaber fell into Darth Vader's possession, who stored it in his personal retreat on Vjun as a trophy. After the Jedi Order was recreated under Luke Skywalker, several of his students, led by Tionne Solusar and Ikrit, arrived at Bast Castle to search for relics and artifacts contained within. Their arrival coincided with the efforts of Orloc, a false Darksider who relied on technological gimmicks to convincingly mimic Force abilities. While the Jedi found Kenobi's lightsaber and the Asli Krimsan's holocron first, Orloc managed to steal both in the subsequent encounter, threatening Ikrit with the lightsaber. However, Orloc's unfamiliarity with the many passages and traps of Bast Castle nearly got him killed, and allowed the Jedi to reclaim the lightsaber and the holocron.[27]
Anakin Solo built his lightsaber that was based of Kenobi's lightsaber
The holocron and the lightsaber were left in Luke Skywalker's quarters for him to examine later. However, Uldir Lochett, a non-Force sensitive attempting to become a Jedi, stole both artifacts and fled to Exis Station to meet with Orloc, hoping the false adept could teach him how to use the Force. Lochett's fellow students chased after, confronting Orloc. Solusar telekinetically retrieved Kenobi's lightsaber and the holocron. The lightsaber changed hands several times during the ensuing battle, finally coming to Anakin Solo, who used it to destroy the devices on Orloc's costume and exposing him as a charlatan. Orloc escaped, while the lightsaber was returned to the Jedi praxeum.[28]
Behind the scenes[]
Obi-Wan's third lightsaber as it appears in Star Wars: Clone Wars.
The original hilt carried by Sir Alec Guinness in A New Hope was made from the clamp of a 3-cell Graflex flash handle with a balance pipe from a Derwent jet engine for the emitter, a World War I rifle grenade for the upper grip, a Browning machine gun booster for the lower section, an Armatage Shanks faucet/tap handle for the pommel, a couple of capacitors for the buttons, and the magnifying "bubble strip" display of a 1974 calculator inserted into the Graflex clamp on the side. It also had a D-ring attached to the pommel rather than utilizing a Covertec wheel on the side of the machine gun booster section.
In several scenes in Revenge of the Sith, General Grievous wields a lightsaber that strongly resembles Kenobi's.
The Ben Kenobi figure released by Hasbro possesses a lightsaber that resembles the one Obi-Wan uses in Revenge of the Sith,[23]with a bronze hilt, as opposed to the actual one wielded with no bronze in A New Hope.[3]
Throughout the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series, Obi-Wan's lightsaber erroneously uses the design of his first and second lightsabers.[29]
