For the first time in the Star Wars movie series, a major character wielded a yellow-bladed lightsaber when Rey showcased her own weapon at the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - but it wasn't the first time that yellow lightsabers had appeared in canon. Even though yellow lightsabers remained a rarity until Daisy Ridley's character presented her unique weapon, the particular color had been prevalent in canon materials and Legends (previously known as the Expanded Universe). In fact, a few notable figures used yellow-tinged kyber crystals to build their respective lightsabers while others wielded the specific color as a symbol of something much greater.
First introduced in 1977's Star Wars, George Lucas' film that launched the franchise, lightsabers were special weapons used primarily by Force-sensitive beings, particularly the Jedi and the Sith. The weapons were essentially laser swords, which consisted of a plasma blade powered by a kyber crystal. The specific crystal used, as well as the bond between the Force-user, determined the color of the blade. Blue and green continue to be associated with members of the light side while dark siders tend to use red-bladed lightsabers. The hilt of the lightsaber can be customized to the user's liking and, as Star Wars has showcased, the weapon itself can come in various shapes and forms.
Seeing as lightsabers are useful in offensive and defensive attacks, most Force-users carry them at all times. While Rey used Luke Skywalker's lightsaber for a duration of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, she ended up with Leia's former weapon in The Rise of Skywalker. After assisting in the defeat of her grandfather, Emperor Palpatine, Rey built her own lightsaber. From parts of her staff and cloth material, Rey used a kyber crystal that emitted a yellow color. But the thing is, she wasn't the first person to use a yellow lightsaber in Star Wars canon or Legends.
Luke Skywalker
As the primary protagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy, Luke Skywalker was one of the first characters shown using a lightsaber. Luke originally used a blue-bladed lightsaber owned by his father, Jedi Anakin Skywalker. When Anakin fell to the dark side of the Force and became Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi claimed the weapon. Luke lost the lightsaber when Vader severed his son's arm in a duel on Cloud City, forcing Luke to construct a new green lightsaber. Despite Luke's iconic lightsabers featured in the Skywalker saga, the character used a yellow lightsaber for a time after the events of Empire Strikes Back.
As seen in Marvel Comics' Star Wars #6, Luke used a yellow-bladed weapon before building a new one, which he found at an old outpost from the High Republic era; the person who sent him there couldn't obtain it for herself because it was guarded by the Grand Inquisitor - or his ghost. The lightsaber itself was one the Temple Guards used to use, hinted at by its design as well as the fact the Grand Inquisitor says he used to have one himself, and he was once a Temple Guard. The fact that Luke once used a yellow lightsaber makes Rey's yellow lightsaber even more symbolic in Rise of Skywalker.
Jedi Temple Guards
Throughout Star Wars canon, yellow lightsabers are synonymous with the Jedi Temple Guards. The security force was required to protect the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, which served as the capital city of the Galactic Republic. According to the lore, Jedi Knights were chosen to become Sentinel guards, giving up their personal identity to embark on a sacred service. Guards were known for wearing masks for anonymity and long formal robes equipped with armor. In addition, they carried double-bladed yellow lightsabers assigned to them to hide their previous ranks. Jedi Temple Guards were notably present in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Following the fall of the Jedi Temple, only one guard survived before becoming loyal to Emperor Palpatine.
Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress was another character from The Clone Wars that had a connection to the rare yellow lightsaber. The anti-hero was born into a coven of Nightsister witches on Dathomir before being sold as a slave. Asajj eventually became a Jedi Padawan, but she fell to the dark side of the Force when she lost her master, Ky Narec. For a time, Asajj served as Count Dooku's personal assassin until a betrayal led her to rejoin her coven. Although she had a redemptive arc, Asajj was ultimately killed by Count Dooku. The figure was known for using twin-bladed red lightsabers but for a time, she acquired a yellow lightsaber on the black market during her time as a bounty hunter. Leaving behind the Sith-associated red-colored weapon was symbolic in Asajj's journey for revenge.
Tyvokka
Tyvokka, a Wookiee Jedi Master featured in Legends, wielded a yellow-bladed lightsaber equipped with a wooden handle and curved hilt. As a respected member of the Jedi High Council, Tyvokka served the Galactic Republic while also training notable Padawans. The Wookiee was highly skilled in the Force, and he was known for his ability to sense the future. Tyvokka later perished during the Stark Hyperspace War, and he was replaced on the Jedi High Council by his apprentice.
Plo Koon
Tyvokka's Padawan in Legends was Plo Koon, a figure that also had a history in Star Wars canon. Though the character wasn't known for using a yellow lightsaber in canon, he was connected to the specific colored weapon in Legends. After completing his training, Plo Koon also fought during the Stark Hyperspace War before taking over for Tyvokka on the Jedi High Council. Aside from serving as a Jedi General, Plo Koon was known for being a skilled starfighter pilot. Whereas Plo Koon used a blue lightsaber in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars, the figure wielded a yellow lightsaber in titles within Legends.
Other Yellow Lightsabers In Legends
Bastila Shan: The figure was featured in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as a member of the Jedi Order during the Jedi Civil War. Recognized as a Jedi Sentinel, Bastila used a yellow lightsaber, which she later traded in to for a double blade. When she spent a brief time as a Sith apprentice, Bastila replaced the yellow kyber crystal for a red kyber crystal.
Mallie Marek: Present in The Force Unleashed novel series, Mallie Marek was a Jedi Knight that served during the Clone Wars. She married a fellow Jedi Knight named Kento, forcing the pair to go into exile after defying the Code of the Jedi Order. When she was killed on the planet of Kashyyyk, Kento had no choice to raise their son alone. He was eventually killed by Darth Vader who trained their son as a secret apprentice. Prior to her death, Mallie showcased her protective skill with her yellow-bladed lightsaber.
Yun: A Force-sensitive figure featured in The Dark Forces Saga, Yun was enamored by the Church of the Dark Side. He eventually fell to the dark side of the Force before killing his own father. With his yellow-bladed lightsaber, Yun joined a group of Dark Jedi, but before his eventual death, he became "one with the Force."
Ganner Rhysode: The Jedi Knight was a prominent figure in The New Jedi Order novel series. After fighting in the Yuuzhan Vong War, Ganner went on a mission to track down Jedi Jacen Solo. The pair were later held captive, but Ganner made a grand sacrifice, holding off hundreds of enemies while Jacen escaped. The figure with the yellow lightsaber went on to become a legend among the Jedi Order.
Anja Gallandro: One of the lesser-known yellow lightsaber users in the Star Wars universe was the daughter of Han Solo's rival. Featured in the Young Jedi Knights series, Anja trained at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy despite the fact that she wasn't Force-sensitive. While training on Yavin 4, the young female wielded a yellow-bladed weapon, but her potential was thwarted by her spice addiction. When she eventually cleansed her body, Anja ended up working alongside Lando Calrissian.