Lightstaffs--possibly the rarest and most deadly weapons in the Star Wars universe. The trademark weapon of two of the most deadly Sith Lords in the galaxy. So...what is it?
At first glance, it might look like a normal lightsaber, just with a longer hilt. But, the emitter arrays at both ends of the hilt give it away...this is a light staff, also known as the double bladed lightsaber, or the Sith lightsaber. Well over 7 feet in length when both blades are activated, it is a formidable weapon in skilled hands. Often it can be snapped apart to be used as two separate blades.
It is an almost impossible weapon to learn to wield well, its twin, weightless blades easy to turn against its holder with a misstep or fumble. But wielded well, it's use is as watching deadly poetry, the spinning blades swift and fatal. Many a single bladed opponent has been quickly cut down trying to deal with the two blades...a common tactic is to hide the second blade, waiting for an opening.
It's best known wielder is Darth Maul, slayer of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He used it expertly, but was eventually killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, after his lightstaff had been cut in two.