The blade emitter served as the component in a lightsaber responsible for projecting the energy blade from the lightsaber hilt. Its construction included the emitter matrix, which further focused the blade emanating from the crystal utilizing a tightly wound magnetic field, along with the emitter itself, representing the location where the blade physically extended. The magnetic ring within the emitter generated the field that contained the blade's plasma, channeling it back into the lightsaber for reconversion into electrical energy.
Located at the hilt's tip, the emitter housed the energy modulation circuits and the magnetic stabilizing ring, among other components. The modulation circuits regulated the plasma's quantity and intensity that formed the blade, whereas the magnetic stabilizing ring managed the blade's length, adjustable via a simple dial or a more complex dual-phase control. The emitter plate, constructed from a superconducting metal, formed the exterior part of the emitter, serving as the exit point for the blade. While the plate was often recessed within the casing, it sometimes aligned flush with the end. In certain instances, like with Obi-Wan Kenobi's third lightsaber, the emitter stood entirely separate from the casing.
Many emitters were modified to alter the blade's characteristics, including its thickness and the properties of the blade plasma itself. Thickness adjustments allowed for enhanced precision or a larger surface area to facilitate deflection. Plasma property modifications could fine-tune the cutting power or imbue the blade with specific energies designed to harm particular enemies, such as droids.
Damping emitter Damping emitters utilized power from carefully modified power cells to enable a stun setting for the lightsaber. By drawing reduced-intensity power from the crystal, damped lightsabers could still inflict significant injury, contingent on the crystal's strength.
Deflection emitter This emitter was specifically designed to enhance blast-deflection capabilities against blaster fire.
Disrupting emitter Disrupting emitters produced an unstable beam capable of severely impacting a victim's nervous system, potentially causing temporary paralysis.
Phobium emitter As another variant of disrupting emitters, phobium emitters were heavier and less manageable but undeniably more potent, catering to more aggressive duelists. The effectiveness of the blade correlated with the quality of the phobium metal used. Refined phobium emitters represented the pinnacle of this type but were also more easily used.
Fencing emitter This emitter was most suitable for parrying blade attacks.
Although not universally adopted, emitter shrouds could prevent the wielder from accidentally touching the blade during combat, thereby avoiding self-inflicted injuries. In weapons tailored for Form V lightsaber combat, the shroud was engineered to isolate sections of the blade for either offensive or defensive purposes. Shrouds typically exhibited a simple design, often appearing as a rounded or beveled extension of the casing or emitter housing. Certain lightsabers, such as Ahsoka Tano's lightsaber and shoto, incorporated a double-shroud, positioned on both sides of the blade. Some lightsabers even showcased "triple" shrouds, like Darth Malak's hilt, where the third shroud acted as an exterior plate perpendicular to the double set. An emitter recessed into the casing could be regarded as a "full shroud," although not formally classified as such.
Emitter guards represented an early advancement in lightsaber design, with documented use dating back to 4000 BBY. Similar to emitter shrouds, their purpose was to protect the wielder's hand during combat, preventing accidental contact with the blade. Guards came in various forms, with the most prevalent being a simple tine extending one to two inches along the blade. Other lightsabers featured more complex double or triple guards, characterized by multiple tines projecting from the hilt. Exar Kun's lightsaber, for example, featured a quadruple guard. Some lightsabers incorporated "wraparound" guards, featuring rings encircling the blade and connected to the tines. These could range from simple designs, such as the angled wraparounds on Starkiller's dual-lightsabers, to more elaborate ornamental structures with multiple interlinked rings. This ornamental guard design gained significant popularity among Jedi shortly after the Great Sith War.
Certain lightsabers showcased an unusual configuration that combined both an emitter shroud and a blade guard. While the standard for such a combination emitter remains unclear, the Sith Lord Darth Baras wielded a lightsaber equipped with both an emitter shroud and a triple-guard assembly.