Summary
- The guard shoto lightsaber is a unique and rarely seen weapon in the Star Wars universe, known for its additional hilt set at a 90-degree angle, allowing for seamless transitioning from attack to defense.
- It was originally developed as a counter to the fencing style used by Makashi practitioners such as Count Dooku and is well-suited to Jedi skilled in the Djem So combat form.
- While the guard shoto has seemingly fallen out of favor, there is a possibility it may appear in future Star Wars content, particularly in the High Republic Era or in the Ahsoka TV show.
Star Wars canon has brought back one of the strangest lightsaber types, the guard shoto, but it's doubtful it will ever be seen. Most viewers are used to the standard lightsaber, with a simple hilt and a dazzlingly bright blade, but in truth there are many different types of lightsaber in Star Wars. Some of these have been featured prominently, with Kylo Ren using his crossguard lightsaber in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Others are rather more unusual, though. The lightsaber whip, for example, is a blade that has been modified so it can transform into a whip; Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh uses one in Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative, having been guided to make the necessary adjustments by the Force itself. The lightspear is a mysterious weapon that has only been referenced, but never seen, and little is currently known about how it works. But Star Wars canon has also brought back one of the strangest (and coolest) lightsabers of all - the guard shoto.
The Guard Shoto Lightsaber Explained
Most Jedi only train with a single blade, but some practitioners of the aggressive lightsaber combat form Djem So are skilled in the use of two. Djem So is particularly useful in combat against enemies who possess a lightsaber of their own, specializing in the use of solid blocks, parries, stronger counterattacks, and ripostes. There's some evidence it was originally developed as a counter to Makashi, a superb fencing style used by Count Dooku.
Djem So practitioners like Ahsoka Tano typically use a standard lightsaber paired with a shorter shoto blade - one that she keeps in close to her body for defensive purposes. The so-called "guard shoto" lightsaber builds upon this in a fascinating way, because it features an additional hilt set at a 90-degree angle, one that allows a Jedi to transition smoothly from attack to defense. It is a hard weapon to master, but it is well-suited to Jedi who are skilled in Djem So, because this has techniques suited to backhanded grips.
The guard shoto was introduced in Star Wars' old Expanded Universe, now branded non-canon or "Legends." Even there, it has only been seen a handful of times, most notably in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed when Jedi Padawan Maris Brood used two guard shoto lightsabers when she clashed with Starkiller, Darth Vader's secret apprentice. It's since been officially canonized through Star Wars: Lightsabers and several RPG sourcebooks, but has never been seen in canon.
Why The Guard Shoto Fell Out Of Favor
It may seem surprising to learn that an entire type of lightsaber has been almost forgotten - but there's good reason. It's important to understand that, by the time of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the Jedi generally believed the age of lightsaber duels was at an end. The Sith had apparently been extinct for a thousand years, and only a handful of Jedi practiced the more sophisticated combat forms such as Makashi. These Jedi tended to be proud and competitive, and the example of Count Dooku proves Makashi practitioners veered close to the dark side.
Given this context, it's easy to see why the guard shoto fell out of favor. It was difficult (even dangerous) to master, and specifically designed for lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It was most effective against Makashi duelist, who were few and far between. The guard shoto lightsaber is basically a relic of a different time, a time when lightsaber duels were the norm. It is true it would have been of great use during the Clone Wars, when the Jedi found themselves taking on the likes of General Grievous and Count Dooku, but by that time it was too late for most Jedi to learn how to use it. Even Djem So itself was controversial; Anakin Skywalker's decision to train Ahsoka Tano in Djem So shocked many other Jedi Masters..
Will Star Wars Ever Show The Guard Shoto?
The interesting question, of course, is whether the guard shoto will ever actually appear in Star Wars. It would fit quite well with Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative, which is set centuries before the events of the prequel trilogy. This was a time when the Jedi took some pride in their craft, when they embellished their lightsaber hilts with intricate designs, gold, and precious metals. It was a time when Jedi practiced both Makashi and Djem So. The guard shoto would work well in this context.
Alternatively, it's possible the guard shoto could appear in the Ahsoka Disney+ TV show. Ahsoka Tano is one of the few Jedi trained in Djem So, and trailers for the series have confirmed she's going up against quite a few lightsaber-wielding Inquisitors and former Jedi. One of Ahsoka's mysterious villains is a woman named Shin Hati, who wields an unusual lightsaber with a style described as rapier-like. A guard shot would be a tremendously useful weapon against Shin, meaning it can't be ruled out in the future of Star Wars.