The Acolyte, episode 6: Vernestra Rwoh’s special lightsaber explained

A weapon never before seen live, on screen, in the saga.

It is the most identifiable weapon of Star Wars : the lightsaber has been a dream come true for viewers for half a century. And yet, it has often evolved over the course of films, series and other spin-off novels. Like when Darth Maul arrived with his double saber in The Phantom Menace (in 1999). This week, in episode 6 of The Acolyteon Disney Plus, it was Vernestra Rwoh who struck hard by taking out her… lightsaber whip!

Grand Master of the High Republic played by Rebecca Henderson (who is also creator Leslye Headland’s wife in the city), Vernestra Rwoh is all-powerful and has a unique weapon, which was invented in the franchise 39 years ago!

The laser whip has indeed made its appearance in the comics Star Wars from the 1980s! They are then the prerogative of female Sith Lords, like Githany or the Dark Lady of the Sith, Lumiya, who faces Luke Skywalker in the comics.

The weapon evolves into a whip lightsaber in the 2021 novel The High Republic: A Test of Courageby Justina Ireland, which tells the story of the youth of Vernestra Rwoh, then a young Jedi Knight, who tinkers with her saber so that it can turn into a laser whip if necessary.

The technical workings of this whip are briefly revealed in the 96th issue of the comics. Star Wars. Lumiya explains to Nagai Den Siva that a lightsaber works on the same principles as a standard lightsaber, with Force-infused crystals powering the weapon. While standard lightsabers can only operate with a single crystal (though some use multiple), lightsaber whips use multiple gems, and the hilt lacks the components needed to hold the energy blade rigid. The result is a much longer and more flexible energy blade, allowing it to be used as a whip.

It remains to be seen what its use by Vernestra Rwoh means in The Acolyte. Clearly, the Jedi boss knows more than she’s letting on about the villain who slaughtered her comrades on the planet Khofar.

According to a theory that is already starting to spread, Qimir could have been her Padawan, a long time ago. And she would have inflicted his scars on his back. Wounds that strangely resemble marks from… a whip!

Answer coming soon in the series Star Warssince there are only two episodes left of The Acolyte to see on Disney Plus.