Unveiling Darth Zannah's Lightsaber: A Weapon of Sith Mastery

Darth Zannah's original name was Rain and she belonged to the human species. Later after being discovered by Darth Bane, she became his apprentice. In 996 BY, in the desert of Ambria, she constructed her double-bladed lightsaber as part of her training. 

Darth Zannah constructed her lightsaber using two synthetic Kyber crystals. One of the crystals that was used in the saber was known as the Bane's Heart as it was named after her master’s name, Darth Bane. Eventually later her whole lightsaber came to be known as Bane's Heart. Initially, she was not very confident in wielding the double bladed lightsaber as she didn't know how to use it for defense purposes. But eventually, she mastered her double-bladed saber and created an impenetrable defense around her. This allows her to face numerous enemies at once.

In this blog, we will discuss the specifications of Darth Zannah’s double bladed lightsaber, also known as Bane's Heart. We will also discuss Darth Zannah's form with her lightsaber and what happened to the powerful Sith weapon. So without further ado, let's get into it! 

Specifications of Darth Zannah's Lightsaber

Image Source: vk.com

When Darth Zannah created her double-bladed lightsaber, it was crafted keeping her petite physique in mind. The shape of the saber's hilt was cylindrical. The length of the hilt was longer than a standard lightsaber as it has to house two kyber crystals. One of the crystals gave a purple-red hue, which looked more like a carmine color and was in the shape of a starburst and was called Bane's Heart. 

The Darth Zannah's double bladed lightsaber had two twin blades, both of which were 0.75 meters long. The lightsaber hummed loudly in ignition, and vibrated lightly when deactivated. While not operational, Bane's Heart was carried at Darth Zannah's side, inside the waistband of her belt, or hidden beneath her robes, in a fold of the garment, always on the left side for ready access to her dominant hand.

What Makes Darth Zannah's Lightsaber Special?

The way it was wielded was a bit different from the way in which other lightsabers were wielded. That is because of the unique crafting of Bane's Heart.  

To start off, Bane's Heart had shorter blades than most other lightsabers, thus reducing its reach, and, in essence, not as powerful, but it was faster and more accurate. Its design suited the defensive fighting style of Zannah which was Form III: Soresu. The creator, Darth Zannah, was probably left-handed, though it could easily be used with either hand.

Darth Zannah used this defense holding a lightsaber horizontally along the ground, with both blades extended. The wrist control and light yet firm grip was needed for effective use of this defensive technique, for it could perform the spinning moves that were nearly impenetrable. Rapid, hypnotic motions usually confused her opponents because she was able to simply ward off their attacks without actually blocking them.

When the enemy was tiring or starting to make a mistake, Zannah used Bane's Heart for a deadly speed in a counterattack. But because of the shorter blade length, the lightsaber was  best used for close-range fighting, which meant that she had a limited reach. Once a stronger physical opponent was sustained against her spinning defense, they could overpower the momentum of her lightsaber.

What Happened To Darth Zannah's Lightsaber? 

Darth Zannah and Darth Bane were pursued by the Jedi to the Deep Core planet of Tython. They fled to an ancient Sith fortress which once belonged to the Dark Lord Belia Darzu. As part of the Jedi invasion, Darth Zannah battled Jedi Knights Sarro Xaj and Johun Othone with her dual-bladed lightsaber. She parried every blow thrown their way and held firm on her defensive position; however, Xaj's raw power and immense blade outpowered her. Relying on a Force-induced diversion, she caught him off guard and mortally sliced Xaj.

She then went on to kill Jedi Raskta Lsu and Othone with her saber. Once the fight was over, Darth Zannah would make sure that a healer named Caleb would save Darth Bane's life. Caleb was unmoving in his refusal to do so, so she killed him with Bane's Heart.

Challenging Her Own Master With Bane's Heart 

Image Source: sk.pinterest.com

Ten years went by and Darth Zannah had grown stronger than Darth Bane himself. The Sith Lord was prepared to challenge her master by holding her saber close to ready at all times when she went to see him. On one of these visits, while on mission to Doan, she had to slay two men who had discovered where she lived. She crossed Nal Hutta and was now set to face Set Harth, a Dark Jedi. His much-advanced Ataru style wasn't easy to penetrate for Darth Zannah's defense techniques and her impenetrable saber defense.

Later, Darth Zannah met Darth Bane in the Stone Prison on Doan, where she challenged him for the right of Dark Lord of the Sith. Not knowing how to attack, she hesitated during combat and relied solely on her double-bladed saber to block Darth Bane's lightning through the Force. Darth Zannah did not win the duel but got another chance when they faced off again on Ambria. 

Though Darth Bane kept attacking her with no hint of mercy, Darth Zannah relied solely on her strong defense. She made one mistake as she was unarmed which led to her losing her lightsaber. During this moment, Darth Zannah again had to rely on the Force to ultimately defeat her opponent and master, Darth Bane. 

FAQ's

How did the blade length of Bane's Heart affect Zannah's speed while in combat?

The blade length of Bane's Heart is shorter than the other lightsabers. Therefore, it gave Zannah the ability to have a higher mobility and fluidity during her combat. It reduced her reach and leverage, but highly improved her agility.

Why is the crystal called "Bane's Heart" so vital for the design of the lightsaber?

The crystal named "Bane's Heart" was a force-sensitive synthetic crystal powering Darth Zannah’s dual bladed lightsaber. It gave the saber the qualities that made Zannah work it with dexterity as well as created the impenetrable defensive shield which defined her combat style.

How did Bane's Heart challenge Zannah's combat style?

Bane's Heart was challenging at first for Zannah since it required precise control and had to grasp its defense capabilities. However, with time, she managed to learn how to properly utilize its unusual shape in the construction of an almost impenetrable defensive barrier which complemented well with the chosen defensive fighting style, Form III: Soresu.

What was it about Bane's Heart that made it so effective when attacking multiple opponents?

The twin blades of Bane's Heart let Zannah form a defensive shield to deflect incoming attacks. Its speed as well as the fluid twirling technique she used has really become effective for blocking multiple attacks coming from different opponents with minimal effort.

How did Bane's Heart balance defense and offense in battle?

Bane's Heart was designed for the primary purpose of defense. Zannah could block and shield herself, but provide a formidable line of defense when she wields it. However, its swiftness and mobility also enabled Zannah to quickly rebound with vicious swiftness if one attacks.

What was the influence of Bane's Heart on Zannah's reputation among the Sith?

In this aspect, Bane's Heart helped Zannah to become a force with which to be reckoned because she was very skilled and powerful as a Sith. The particular design of the heart, coupled with her knowledge of how to use it for her defense, made her even more feared and respected. Indeed, Bane's Heart helped her succeed in her battles against Jedi and other rivals to strengthen her position in the Sith Order.