List of Star Wars melee weapons
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The following is a list of melee weapons from the Star Wars universe.
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[edit] Amphistaff
Amphistaffs are the Primary anti-personnel weapons of the Yuuzhan Vong. Ampistaffs scales can produce an edge harder than a diamond's that can stop a lightsaber.
In addition to their default staff/spear configuration, amphistaffs can be wielded as a whip, wrapping around a target then biting it. The amphistaff's final capability is the ability to shoot poison. Anyone who wields an amphistaff can simply point it and prompt it to spray deadly toxins at a victim. Although amphistaff venom is far more effective when injected, the venom can usually kill the target by coming into contact with their skin.
Supreme Overlord Shimrra's specially bio-engineered amphistaff is known as "The Scepter of Power", and almost killed Luke Skywalker during the events of The Unifying Force, the final book in the New Jedi Order series.
Jacen Solo was able to tame several amphistaffs and make living armor out of them in Traitor.
[edit] Electrostaff
An electrostaff is a melee weapon which looks like a staff, but conducts energy fields at its ends which can cause severe damage to living tissue and inanimate objects alike. It is often utilized by General Grievous's Bodyguards, the IG-100 MagnaGuards, though Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi are seen using them, as well as Shaak Ti in the Star Wars: Clone Wars microseries. They are impenetrable to most weapons, even lightsabers, because they are supposedly made of rare phrik alloy. The appearance of this weapon in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith marked the first time a non-lightsaber weapon that could withstand the cutting power of a lightsaber in a Star Wars film was used. General Grievous used an electrostaff to escape in Revenge of the Sith hurling it into a transparisteel panel on the bridge of his damaged spaceship; this caused the window to explode outwards, sucking General Grievous out into the void.
[edit] Energy sword
The Energy sword was an ancient development in weaponry prior to the invention of the lightsaber, consisting of a plasma charged blade powered by a power cell and projector in the hilt, with a pair of Velmorite crystals used for focusing. While similar to the lightsaber of the Jedi Knights, the energy sword is not comparable in strength to the Jedi weapon, although every bit as precise and deadly. Energy swords have mainly ceremonial uses: Velmorian duel traditions settled disputes with energy swords, and very elderly Jedi and Sith use these for ceremonies.
[edit] Force Pike
The Force Pike is an advanced vibro weapon. Built on the same basis as a vibrosword, the Force Pike is much thinner. Also, the pike will bend rather than break when under pressure, allowing the user much more acrobatic freedom in combat. Force pikes are most notably wielded by the Emperor's Royal Guard. They are far more resistant and effective against lightsaber attack than regular vibroweapons, due to thier fully cortosis construction and powerful vibration able to counter the lightsabers.
[edit] Gaderffii (Gaffii Stick)
A Gaffii Stick or Gaderffii is a durable bladed metal club which appears similar to the medieval flanged mace. It is used as the primary weapon of the Tusken Raiders, and is known to non-Raiders as a "Gaffii stick". The Gaderffii is the traditional weapon of the Sand People, and each Gaderffii is unique. Every Tusken Raider goes through a ritual similar to that of a Jedi Knight, where he must produce his own Gaffii stick.
The Gaderffii stick is also used by hunters as a trophy of a successful Tusken Raider kill. In the video game Knights of the Old Republic, the player can exchange gaffii sticks for money. The leader's gaffii stick is the most valuable and a handsome reward is placed for the Leader's Gaffii Stick. This weapon is also referred to as a gaderffii baton in Star Wars Galaxies.
[edit] Lightsaber
The lightsaber is the traditional weapon of the Jedi Order and of the Sith. It usually consists of a cylindric hilt, normally 30cm though it can vary in length for different users, and upon activation emits a colored blade of pure energy. The hilt may also have buttons and dials to increase intensity and length. Lightsabers can be in various ranges of colors, including green, blue, yellow, red (synthetic or sith crystal), purple, silver (common among more serene Jedi Masters, such as Nejaa Halcyon), and others. Later story eras, however, have brought about a reduced number of sightings of the more varied colors. Obi-Wan Kenobi used a blue lightsaber, as did Anakin Skywalker. Luke used his father's lightsaber before having his arm cut off in The Empire Strikes Back; he crafted a new lightsaber with a green hue. Darth Vader and Darth Sidious, not to mention other Sith, preferred red lightsabers. The color of the blade is determined by the type of focusing crystal used in its crafting. Certain colors being more common are due to the fact that Illum crystals (found in the Jedi Sanctuary on Illum, as seen in the Clone Wars) were rather easy to obtain, unlike the rare Adegan crystals from which a skilled Jedi craftsman could project other colors. Durindfire gems were used for the elegant and mystic silver blade, while Corusca stones were used for the interesting purple blade (Jedi Master Mace Windu used such a crystal). Red crystals, in the later years of the Old Republic and into the New Order of the Emperor, were synthetic. While Jedi frowned upon the creation of crystals unnaturally, in favor of tuning and cutting a natural gem, the Sith were not above taking a crystal to a superheated forge and focusing their hatred and anger into the crystal, and form it using the Force. Some speculate that due to the symbolism, many Sith made the long journey to the planet of Mustafar in the Outer Rim to create their crystal, as one more trial to prove their devotion to the teachings of his master.
"This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight, less random than a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age." Obi-Wan Kenobi's statement became a mentality that most Jedi had followed for generations, and also in generations that would follow, as Luke's preference of his lightsaber after the events of The Empire Strikes Back would indicate. Note: Even players of Star Wars games (most notably Star Wars Galaxies) have been known to follow this dictum, and those players are nearly unmatched in skill with their weapon of choice.
Lightsaber blades can cut through anything except another lightsaber blade, a force field, a vibro-sword, powerful energy shields, and a mineral known as Cortosis ore. Dense materials like Phrik alloy also give significant resistance against a lightsaber. Another alloy able to withstand a lightsaber blade is mandolorian iron found only on the planet Mandalore.
There are seven forms of lightsaber combat:
Form I Shii-Cho - Form II Makashi - Form III Soresu - Form IV Ataru - Form V Shien / Djem So - Form VI Niman - Form VII Juyo / Vaapad
[edit] Lightwhip
A combination of a whip and a Lightsaber, the "lightwhip" has been created only three times: by the Sith Githany, Lady Lumiya and the Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi. It is a lightsaber crafted out of Kaiburr crystal and Mandalorian iron, but with the ability to flex and move like a leather whip. One was built by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who designed it from a whip he had seen a bounty hunter use. It was used by the Nautolan Jedi Kit Fisto and Obi-wan during their mission on Ord Cestus.
- See also: Lightsaber
[edit] Sith Sword
An archaic weapon used by ancient Sith Lords and Dark Jedi, a Sith Sword consists of an alchemically altered blade attached to an ordinary sword hilt. Though the blades look almost 'glass-like', they are incredibly strong, and in the hands of a skilled user they are easily a match for a Lightsaber. As the Sith wielding the weapon grows more powerful in the Dark side of the Force, the blade becomes more dangerous; the sword can focus the Force energies of the user, making the blade unnaturally sharp and causing it to emit Force lightning.
[edit] Stun Baton
Similar to a billy club, this short metal weapon has a high-voltage electrical charge that can sting or kill. These common weapons are used by planetary police forces for crowd control and to stop unarmed criminals, but they're little use against a blaster. Security officers on the asteroid prison of Oovo IV commonly use these to subdue rowdy prisoners.
[edit] Vibro-weapons
Many variations of the vibro-blade exist. Swords, pikes, knives, and axes all consist of a basic design. The hilt or handle contains a mechanism that causes the blade to vibrate at an incredible speed. This makes the blade red-hot, causing even the slightest glancing blow to become a gaping wound. The design is very complex and most, if not all, vibro-weapons have Cortosis particles "woven" into their construction. This makes the blades resistant to blaster fire and small damages that may be inflicted on a blade. This Cortosis weave also protects against sparring damage with lightsabers to a limited degree.
[edit] References
- Sansweet, Stephen J. (1998). Star Wars Encyclopedia. The Ballantine Publishing Group. ISBN 0-345-40227-8.
- Slavicsek, Bill, Collins, Andy, and Wiker, JD (2002). Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-2876-X.
- Grubb, Jeff and Stephens, Owen K.C. (2002). Arms and Equipment Guide (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-2782-8.
- Stephens, Owen K. C. (2001). Starships of the Galaxy (Star Wars Roleplaying Game). Lucas Books. ISBN 0-7869-1859-4.
[edit] External links
- The Parts of Star Wars - a detailed website on the weapons of the Star Wars saga
