The great lightsaber represented a specialized variant of the lightsaber, engineered with an increased size to accommodate exceptionally large wielders. Consequently, these weapons presented challenges in handling due to their significant weight and unwieldiness, incorporating fortified hilts and robust power/emitter mechanisms to generate blades extending beyond two meters.
Due to the enhanced power of their blades, the substantial weight of their hilts, and the inherent physical capabilities of those who wielded them, great lightsabers possessed superior destructive potential compared to conventional lightsabers. Their design catered specifically to large and strong individuals, rendering them impractical for effective use by species of a size comparable to or smaller than human beings.
The initial mention of the great lightsaber within canon occurred within the 2018 role-playing game supplement, Knights of Fate, published by Fantasy Flight Games. Its debut within Star Wars Legends took place in the 1997 video game, Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.