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In the hands of an expert of the Force or one who understands this concept, the lightsaber is a weapon to be greatly respected and feared. When practiced with, such a lightsaber will slowly connect with its wielder, becoming an extension of their body and will. As a result, using a lightsaber such as the Darksaber isn't so much fighting with a blade as directing a current of power one controlled by the wielder's thoughts and actions, which are converted into energy that flowed through the crystal and become part of the blade itself. The blades of some lightsabers such as the Darksaber feel heavy in spite of their weightless energy blades, and it takes great skill and practice to overcome this, as energy constantly flows through the cyber crystals powering the blade. Due to the weightlessness of blade and the strong gyroscopic effect generated by it, lightsabers require a great deal of strength and dexterity to wield, and it is extremely difficult - and dangerous - for the untrained to attempt using one, especially in combat. The hilt is almost always self-fabricated by the wielder to match his or her specific needs, preferences, and style. The field contains the immense heat of the plasma, protecting the wielder, and allows the blade to keep its shape.
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The weapon consists of a smooth, solid, laser-like blade comprised of pure plasma emitted from the hilt and suspended in a force containment field.
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This perception endured, despite the many conflicts with lightsaber-wielding Sith Lords and Dark Jedi. The lightsaber also became synonymous with the Jedi Order's values to uphold peace and justice throughout the galaxy. The lightsaber is designed as much for elegance in combat as for ceremony, the lightsaber was a distinctive weapon, the very image of which was inextricably bound with the mythos of the Jedi Order and their polar opposites, the Sith. Bringing the blade into contact with an object or another lightsaber's blade produces a loud crackle. Some lightsabers have higher or lower pitched hums than what is considered typical. An active lightsaber gives off a distinctive hum, which rises or lowers in pitch and volume as the blade is moved rapidly through the air. In addition, some exotic saber-proof materials, such as Phrik or Mandalorian iron, have been introduced in the Expanded Universe. It leaves cauterized wounds or burns in flesh, but can be deflected by another lightsaber's blade, or by energy shields. The lightsaber's blade can burn and cut through most substances without resistance.
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