The Transformation of A'sharad Hett’s Lightsaber to Darth Krayt's Dark Blade

While lightsabers continue to be the stars of Star Wars saga, its significance in the Legends and Canon era is quite contrasting. For example, in Legends, lightsabers are more connected to the Force. And both Jedi and Sith use their special connections and rituals to make the lightsaber unique. Sometimes, it is seen that even lightsabers have special Force powers. On the contrary, in Canon, lightsabers are seen as significant too. But the connection with the Force isn't implored that much. In Canon, it is more about wielding the lightsaber as a weapon and there is not much mention of rituals or special connections of wielder with the lightsaber.

Therefore, a lightsaber story from Legends is quite interesting to fans as compared to one from the Canon. One such transformative and resonant story is of Sharad Hett's lightsaber from the Legends. The renowned Jedi Knight Sharad Hett used a lightsaber that even accompanied him in his self-proclaimed exile on Tatooine. This self-exile was due to his disagreement with the Jedi Council's involvement in the Clone Wars, destruction of his homeworld Tatooine and him losing numerous close allies in the Clone Wars. 

Sharad Hett died after a confrontation with an ex Jedi and now bounty hunter, Aurra Sing. After becoming one with the Force, his weapon of choice was then wielded by his son, A’Sharad Hett during the Clone Wars. But, following his father's footsteps, A’Sharad Hett also became disillusioned with the Jedi Order and went on to become a bounty hunter. And decades later, he embraced the dark side of the Force and became the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Krayt. He abolished Rule of Two where there is a master and apprentice and established a new order for the Sith known as One Sith, where every Sith is equal and serves the ultimate authority which is the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Krayt himself. 

In this blog, we will discuss the journey of the powerful family legacy of Sharad Hett's lightsaber from the light side to the dark side of the Force. So without any delay, let's get into it! 

Sharad Hett's Lightsaber

Sharad Hett was a highly accomplished and respected Jedi Knight. He was known for his exceptional mastery of the Force and lightsaber combat. He was trained by Master Eeth Koth and, because of this, became quite a celebrated figure within the Jedi Order. After disillusionment with the Jedi and the Republic, he resigned from his position and took self-imposed exile on Tatooine. There, he took on the practices of the Tusken Raiders, living among them, and became a warlord, leading a massive band of Tusken Raiders.

He had one lightsaber during all his life. A female Tusken Raider tribal leader, A’Yark who is also the adopted sister of Sharad Hett's wife, K’Sheek when remembers the blade to be green. But, the one he had while acting as a warlord had been red. His weapon became a key clue when, in 32 BBY, reports of a Tusken Raider wielding a lightsaber reached the Jedi Temple. The lightsaber matched historical records of Sharad Hett and his Jedi masters like Grand Master Yoda and Eeth Koth recognised it instantly. This helped them confirm the warlord's identity as Sharad Hett.

Eventually, bounty hunter Aurra Sing revealed the information to Gardulla the Elder and Jabba, resulting in a surprise attack on the main Tusken camp. Sharad Hett led his people into battle and confronted Aurra Sing. Though he easily repelled her attacks, she quickly created a distraction and stabbed him in the chest with her lightsaber.

As he was dying, Hett made Ki-Adi-Mundi promise to take his son, A'Sharad Hett, into the Jedi Order and train him as his Padawan. Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed. With his last words, he said that even though he never knew his parents, he was honored to know his son.

A’Sharad Hett and His Father's Legacy

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He is the son of the ex-Jedi Knight Sharadd Hett and a female Tusken, K' Sheek, born from the planet of Tatooine. From the start, he was more than just a Jedi brought up but also learnt the desert nomadic tradition of being a Sand Person from where he came. He also killed a Krayt dragon in a ritual one time. He also gained many informal lessons from his dad, Sharadd Hett: both on the ways of Force as well as lightsaber construction.

Then, there was a Hutt-provoked Tusken War that took the life of his father and killed Sharadd Hett at the hand of a bounty hunter named Aurra Sing. A'Sharad Hett was just 15 at this point in time. It was then when he joined the formal training of being a Jedi under the Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. He acquired his father's lightsaber as well and did use the weapon even after the construction of his own lightsaber.

A’Sharad Hett Fall to Darkness

He was also a Jedi Master and a general during the end days of the Galactic Republic. However things took a sharp turn when he got to know that Anakin Skywalker embraced the dark side of the Force and became Darth Vader. After becoming Darth Vader, he helped Darth Sidious in annihilation of the Jedi Order.

A'Sharad Hett blamed himself for not having protected the Jedi Order when he was protecting Anakin Skywalker's evil act of killing the village of Sand People in his days as a Jedi. He was sorry for not having been able to expel the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker when he had the chance. A'Sharad thought that his failure to recognize the dark side of Anakin had eventually led to the collapse of the Republic and the Jedi Order.

This made him become a bounty hunter, free from the ethical principles of the Jedi Order. Then on one of his missions, he trained under the Dark Lord Xoxaan. And after being captured and tortured by Yuuzhan Vong, he fell to the dark side and embraced it fully. He proclaimed himself as the Dread Lord and the Dark Lord of the Sith.

A’Sharad Hett's Lightsabers

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Darth Krayt, formerly A'Sharad Hett, used several lightsabers during his lifetime, each representing a distinct period of his life. His first lightsaber was built during his days as a Tusken Raider, learning from his father, and it had a red blade, though the origin of the crystal is unknown.

He inherited Sharad's lightsaber upon his father's death; A'Sharad quickly became a proficient dual-wielder, wielding both sabers simultaneously. Later, he replaced the two red crystals of both lightsabers with lime green crystals.

When A'Sharad transformed into the Sith Lord Darth Krayt, he set aside his Jedi swords for two Sith lightsabers. His new blades consisted of a coral-based structure derived from Yuuzhan Vong technology, which held a red blade. After the Krayt was reborn, he returned to using one Sith saber, while still employing the other Jedi lightsaber that contained a synthetic red blade which resembles a bloodshine sword, typical of a Sith lightsaber.

Evolution of a Weapon: From Jedi To Sith

Sharad Hett lost his faith in the Jedi Order way before he died. He started to feel more and more distant from their ways. This led to Sharad Hett eventually leaving the Jedi Order in order to embrace the lifestyle of the Tusken Raider. But before his death, Sharad asked one last thing. He requested Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi to take his son, A'Sharad Hett, into the Jedi Order and train him as a Jedi.

Although, just like his father wanted, A’Sharad Hett studied the ways of the Jedi from his master Ki-Adi-Mundi starting from the age of 15. Moreover, his exceptional skills in the Clone Wars also earned him the rank of a Jedi Master. Despite his father's desires, A'Sharad Hett, like his father, grew to despise the Jedi. Eventually, he turned away from the teachings of the Jedi and toward the dark side of the Force, ending as the Sith Lord, Darth Krayt.

In a way, the tragic path from giving up on the Jedi path passed down to his son, A’Sharad Hett. And, despite his better wishes for his own son, he also became disillusioned with the Jedi Order like his father. After some decades, he became the formidable Sith Lord who was considered immortal, considering his whole experience as a former Jedi and Sith both. 

FAQ’s

What was the fate of Sharad Hett's lightsaber after his death?

After Sharad Hett's death, his son, A'Sharad Hett, took his lightsaber. A'Sharad continued using it with his own lightsaber.

Did A'Sharad Hett switch the color of his lightsaber?

Yes, A'Sharad Hett changed the crystals of his father's and his one. He replaced red with green ones in both the lightsabers so that the blade in them became lime green.

What lightsabers did A'Sharad Hett use as Darth Krayt?

He threw away his Jedi lightsabers and took up two Sith lightsabers, molded from coral to the points, which resembled those of the Yuuzhan Vong.

Does Darth Krayt ever continue to utilize his original Jedi lightsaber?

Yes, once Darth Krayt, he returned to his old Jedi lightsaber, but he replaced the green crystal for a synthetic red one to make it a dark side weapon with a bloodshine blade.

Why did A'Sharad Hett's lightsaber change its color from green to red?

A'Sharad Hett changed the color of his lightsaber to red after becoming Darth Krayt by embracing the dark side, after which he followed the typical color of the Sith lightsabers.