Say "hello there" to my new favorite Star Wars lightsaber, which blew my mind with a neat trick

Star Wars Anakin Skywalker Color-Change Lightsaber Hilt on a stand — (Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)

I've seen a few Star Wars lightsabers in my time, and have swung enough around to avoid hitting myself most of the time. That's why I wasn't expecting to be surprised by new merch that recreates one of the coolest moments from a galaxy far, far away. This really is a weapon from a more civilized age.

Based on Anakin's appearance in the dream(ish) sequences of Ahsoka, the Anakin Skywalker Color Changing Legacy Lightsaber does exactly what it says on the tin – it flashes between the blade's usual blue and Darth Vader's red at the push of a button, reflecting his switch from Dark to Light during the show. This is really cool to witness in-person, and drew a crowd when I visited Disney's London HQ to check out upcoming May 4 merch. Although other, third-party Star Wars lightsabers can pull off the same trick, it's not as easy as it is here; you have to cycle through various modes to get what you want.

The saber will be available on the Disney Store US soon, and is already up for grabs for and £230 at Disney Store UK in honor of Star Wars Day.

While I normally prefer Black Series sabers thanks to their extra features on top of hilt quality (the Darth Vader Force FX Elite Lightsaber is still the best replica around, in my opinion), this Legacy equivalent does something none of them have, to my knowledge. It also looks fantastic, like it's been stolen off an active set. The hilt is made of metal and rubber so weighs a decent amount, for example. Similarly, the blade doesn't require a thicker, alternate neck to work; unlike the Obi-Wan Force FX Elite Lightsaber that requires a different emitter if you want to plug in a blade, this one looks just as good and screen-accurate when in use as it does on display as a hilt.

Oh, and being able to flick between red and blue (by nudging the slider on the hilt up or down) is just damn cool.

Much like the remote control Mouse Droid I mentioned a few weeks ago, this is the kind of replica I can see making many future appearances at conventions accompanied by Anakin cosplays. Frankly, I can't blame them – this was an easy highlight from my visit.

Anakin Skywalker Colour Changing Lightsaber | £230 at Disney Store UK
So far as pricing goes, this is pretty average for a saber of this type. While solo hilts are usually cheaper (as demonstrated by many Legacy lightsabers, such as the Master Sol Hilt), I suspect the addition of a blade that can glow both red and blue ups the cost a little. As a note, the US version should hopefully be up for sale soon.

Buy it if:
✅ You want arguably the most iconic saber
✅ You want a neat party trick

Don't buy it if:
❌ You already have an Anakin saber hilt

For more goodness from a galaxy far, far away, don't miss the best Lego Star Wars sets.

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, but these days you'll find me managing GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage (I spend my time here handling everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news). I've also been obsessed with Warhammer since the 1990s, and love nothing more than running tabletop RPGs like D&D as a Dungeon Master.