Double-Bladed Lightsaber: Maul's Saber and Real Staff Versions

A double-bladed lightsaber is one hilt with a blade emitter at both ends, so it produces two blades pointing in opposite directions. It first appeared on screen in 1999, carried by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace [1][2]. You can buy real versions today, sold by retailers as staffs [3].

Where the double-bladed lightsaber comes from

Search terms such as “double bladed lightsaber”, “lightsaber staff” and “saberstaff” point to the same idea, and the vendor history page lists “doublesaber” and “dual-bladed saber” as other names [3]. If you came for the Darth Maul lightsaber, that is the film original and it is covered first. A split lightsaber, which divides into two single sabers, is a related type covered in the variants table below [3][4].

The idea did not start in the films. The design was first drawn in the comic series Tales of the Jedi, which is now classed as Legends, and the movie version came later [4][5]. That series ties the design to the Sith Lord Exar Kun [4].

On screen, the first one is Maul’s red saber in The Phantom Menace [1][2]. The handbook card for it describes a single long grip with two blades running in opposite directions [1]. Wikipedia describes the same idea as two regular lightsabers joined at their butt ends, each producing a blade on its own [5].

In that film Maul uses it against Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he dies in the fight [2].

Who uses one on screen

Maul is the best-known wielder, but he is not the only one. A fan wiki lists these canon and Legends users [4], and a vendor history page gives a shorter list [3].

Maul’s weapon changes in Rebels. The handbook says he holds a single-bladed saber there [11], while its separate card for that weapon notes that sources disagree on whether it is his double-bladed saber used with one blade [12]. Treat the Rebels details as open.

Maul’s story gives a second form of the design. The fan wiki says he also carried a double-bladed saber disguised as a cane, until his death on Tatooine [4].

Variants of the double-bladed saber

Not every “two-bladed” saber works the same way. The fan wiki lists four main types [4], and the vendor history page names the split type and the pike [3].

How a staff handles

A double-bladed saber is a staff weapon, so many single-saber moves become awkward or unsafe [3]. The vendor history page says it suits fast, sweeping strikes and is weaker for thrusts, and that an inexperienced user can hit themselves [3]. Its rarity can also surprise an opponent [3].

If you want to use one for sparring, read lightsaber forms first, then check which blades are rated for contact in best lightsaber for dueling. A staff is a niche choice for most beginners.

Staff compared with a single saber

• Pro: Two blades and a long reach for sweeping, spinning patterns [3]
• Pro: Many models let you run one blade alone [3][4]
• Con: Harder to control, with a real risk of striking yourself [3]
• Con: Not suited to many standard single-saber moves [3]

What to check on a staff listing

A staff has more parts to go wrong than a single saber, so read the product page for these points before paying:

• Second blade: Can it be removed or switched off, so you can use the hilt as a single saber? The fan wiki notes that wielders can run one blade alone [4].
• Electronics: Pixel blades and basic LED blades behave differently. The comparison is in xenopixel vs neopixel.
• Power: Two blades draw more from the battery than one. See lightsaber batteries for what the numbers on a listing mean.
• Contact rating: A display staff and a sparring staff are different products. Look for the vendor’s own statement on whether the blades are meant to take hits.
• Warranty and returns: Check the length and what voids it.

A hint on terms: shops use “staff”, “saberstaff”, “dual” and “double” for overlapping things, and a listing called “dual sabers” may be two separate sabers [4][13].

Real double-bladed lightsabers you can buy

Several vendors sell pre-made staffs. On one vendor’s history page in November 2026, the listed staffs ranged from $160 to $295 [3]. Examples from that page:

• Dark Apprentice v4 Staff: $170 [3]
• Sentinel v4 Staff: $185 [3]
• Dominicide: $270 [3]
• The Third Sister (a spinning-ring type): $285 [3]

The page does not say which electronics each model uses, so check the product page before buying. If you are unsure what a “board” or “neopixel” means, start with neopixel lightsaber and the picks in best lightsaber.

Building your own is also possible. A custom staff needs a hilt designed for two blades, and the options are covered in lightsaber hilts. The general build route is in build your own lightsaber.

Read listings carefully: a product described as “inspired by” a character is not the same claim as an officially licensed replica.

FAQ

Who first used a double-bladed lightsaber in the movies?

Darth Maul, in The Phantom Menace (1999) [1][2].

Is a double-bladed lightsaber the same as two lightsabers?

No. A true double-bladed saber is one hilt with two emitters. A split saber can separate into two sabers, and a pair of sabers is a different thing [3][4].

Can you use only one blade?

Many models can. The fan wiki says a wielder can switch on just one blade and use it like a standard saber [4].

Are double-bladed lightsabers good for dueling?

They are hard to control and the vendor history page warns that many single-saber moves do not translate [3]. For first sabers, see best lightsaber for dueling.

Where does the crossguard saber fit in?

It is a different design with side vents on a single blade. See crossguard lightsaber, and for a film-by-film list see every lightsaber by film. The full lore hub is at Characters and Films.

Sources

1. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/darth-maul-red-double.md, resting on https://starwars.archivum.wiki/article/maul’s_lightsaber and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightsaber (handbook check 2026-11-01, URLs link-checked 2026-11-06)
2. Editorial handbook note, handbook/films/04-episode-1-phantom-menace.md, resting on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Episode_I_%E2%80%93_The_Phantom_Menace (handbook check 2026-11-01, link-checked 2026-11-06)
3. The History of Double-Blade Lightsabers, Ultrasabers, https://ultrasabers.com/holocron/the-history-of-double-blade-lightsabers (accessed 2026-11-06)
4. Double-bladed lightsaber, Archivum wiki, https://starwars.archivum.wiki/article/double-bladed_lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-06)
5. Lightsaber, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightsaber (accessed 2026-11-06)
6. Editorial handbook note, handbook/films/08-clone-wars-series.md, resting on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Clone_Wars_(2008_TV_series) (handbook check 2026-11-01, link-checked 2026-11-06)
7. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/asajj-ventress-red.md, resting on https://starwars.archivum.wiki/article/asajj_ventress’s_lightsabers (handbook marks it as not opened) (link-checked 2026-11-06)
8. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/grand-inquisitor-red.md and handbook/films/09-rebels.md, resting on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Rebels (link-checked 2026-11-06)
9. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/reva-red.md and handbook/films/19-obi-wan-kenobi.md, resting on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi-Wan_Kenobi_(miniseries) (link-checked 2026-11-06)
10. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/cal-kestis-blue.md (no external URL given in the handbook; handbook marks Survivor details as unchecked)
11. Editorial handbook note, handbook/films/09-rebels.md, resting on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Rebels (link-checked 2026-11-06)
12. Editorial handbook note, handbook/sabers/darth-maul-red-single.md, resting on https://starwars.archivum.wiki/article/maul’s_lightsaber (link-checked 2026-11-06)
13. Double Bladed (Dual) Sabers, Theory Sabers, https://www.theorysabers.com/sabers/dual (accessed 2026-11-06)