Mace Windu's purple lightsaber is one of the most recognizable weapons in the prequels, and in canon he built it himself. The story of the saber, the duel that ended his run, and what you can buy are all below.
How it was built
In canon, Windu made his own lightsaber after becoming a senior member of the Jedi Council. The Star Wars Databank describes the amethyst blade as his way of warning enemies, and canon credits the droid Huyang, the Jedi Temple's lightsaber instructor, with helping. The older Legends stories about where his purple crystal came from aren't canon.
Why purple
Off screen, it's because Samuel L. Jackson asked George Lucas for a purple blade so Windu would stand out. The full story is in our purple lightsaber post, and what every lightsaber color means shows how purple stacks up against the rest.
How he fights
Windu's closely associated with Vaapad, an intense, aggressive style that channels dark side emotion while staying in control. It's demanding and unusual, which seems right for a man with a purple saber. Our guide to the seven lightsaber forms shows where it fits.
The duel with Palpatine
In Revenge of the Sith, Windu confronts Chancellor Palpatine, who reveals himself as Darth Sidious. Windu gets the better of him, then Anakin Skywalker steps in, and Palpatine hits Windu with Force lightning and sends him out of a window. He's presumed dead, though his body was never found, which is why people keep inventing theories. The other side of that fight is in Emperor Palpatine's lightsaber.
If you want one
We've got two Windu-inspired sabers. The Windu has a 10.6 inch hilt and comes with Baselit+, Neopixel or Proffie electronics. It includes a display stand and blade plug (not with the Baselit+ version) plus a Covertec belt wheel. The Windu SE is the more affordable one, with a 9.8 inch hilt and Baselit, Baselit+, Neopixel and Proffie options. Both are inspired by the character rather than being official products.
Unsure about electronics? The best lightsaber for dueling and the Neopixel guide cover the differences, and the movie-inspired collection has the rest of the cast.
